[HTML][HTML] Stromal interferon-γ signaling and cross-presentation are required to eliminate antigen-loss variants of B cell lymphomas in mice

A Gerbitz, M Sukumar, F Helm, A Wilke, C Friese… - PLoS …, 2012 - journals.plos.org
A Gerbitz, M Sukumar, F Helm, A Wilke, C Friese, C Fahrenwaldt, FM Lehmann…
PLoS One, 2012journals.plos.org
To study mechanisms of T cell-mediated rejection of B cell lymphomas, we developed a
murine lymphoma model wherein three potential rejection antigens, human c-MYC, chicken
ovalbumin (OVA), and GFP are expressed. After transfer into wild-type mice 60–70% of
systemically growing lymphomas expressing all three antigens were rejected; lymphomas
expressing only human c-MYC protein were not rejected. OVA expressing lymphomas were
infiltrated by T cells, showed MHC class I and II upregulation, and lost antigen expression …
To study mechanisms of T cell-mediated rejection of B cell lymphomas, we developed a murine lymphoma model wherein three potential rejection antigens, human c-MYC, chicken ovalbumin (OVA), and GFP are expressed. After transfer into wild-type mice 60–70% of systemically growing lymphomas expressing all three antigens were rejected; lymphomas expressing only human c-MYC protein were not rejected. OVA expressing lymphomas were infiltrated by T cells, showed MHC class I and II upregulation, and lost antigen expression, indicating immune escape. In contrast to wild-type recipients, 80–100% of STAT1-, IFN-γ-, or IFN-γ receptor-deficient recipients died of lymphoma, indicating that host IFN-γ signaling is critical for rejection. Lymphomas arising in IFN-γ- and IFN-γ-receptor-deficient mice had invariably lost antigen expression, suggesting that poor overall survival of these recipients was due to inefficient elimination of antigen-negative lymphoma variants. Antigen-dependent eradication of lymphoma cells in wild-type animals was dependent on cross-presentation of antigen by cells of the tumor stroma. These findings provide first evidence for an important role of the tumor stroma in T cell-mediated control of hematologic neoplasias and highlight the importance of incorporating stroma-targeting strategies into future immunotherapeutic approaches.
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