Interleukin-17 signaling influences CD8+ T cell immunity and tumor progression according to the IL-17 receptor subunit expression pattern in cancer cells

IL-17 immune responses in cancer are controversial, with both tumor-promoting and tumor-repressing effects observed. To clarify the role of IL-17 signaling in cancer progression, we used syngeneic tumor models from different tissue origins. We found that deficiencies in host IL-17RA or IL-17A/F expression had varying effects on the in vivo growth of different solid tumors including melanoma, sarcoma, lymphoma, and leukemia. In each tumor type, the absence of IL-17 led to changes in the expression of mediators associated with inflammation and metastasis in the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, IL-17 signaling deficiencies in the hosts resulted in decreased anti-tumor CD8+ T cell immunity and caused tumor-specific changes in several lymphoid cell populations. Our findings were associated with distinct patterns of IL-17A/F cytokine and receptor subunit expression in the injected tumor cell lines. These patterns affected tumor cell responsiveness to IL-17 and downstream intracellular signaling, leading to divergent effects on cancer progression. Additionally, we identified IL-17RC as a critical determinant of the IL-17-mediated response in tumor cells and a potential biomarker for IL-17 signaling effects in tumor progression. Our study offers insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying IL-17 activities in cancer and lays the groundwork for developing personalized immunotherapies.

CD39+ conventional CD4+ T cells with exhaustion traits and cytotoxic potential infiltrate tumors and expand upon CTLA-4 blockade

Conventional CD4+ T (Tconv) lymphocytes play important roles in tumor immunity; however, their contribution to tumor elimination remains poorly understood. Here, we describe a subset of tumor-infiltrating Tconv cells characterized by the expression of CD39. In several mouse cancer models, we observed that CD39+ Tconv cells accumulated in tumors but were absent in lymphoid organs. Compared to tumor CD39- counterparts, CD39+ Tconv cells exhibited a cytotoxic and exhausted signature at the transcriptomic level, confirmed by high protein expression of inhibitory receptors and transcription factors related to the exhaustion. Additionally, CD39+ Tconv cells showed increased production of IFNγ , granzyme B, perforin and CD107a expression, but reduced production of TNF. Around 55% of OVA-specific Tconv from B16-OVA tumor-bearing mice, expressed CD39. In vivo CTLA-4 blockade induced the expansion of tumor CD39+ Tconv cells, which maintained their cytotoxic and exhausted features. In breast cancer patients, CD39+ Tconv cells were found in tumors and in metastatic lymph nodes but were less frequent in adjacent non-tumoral mammary tissue and not detected in non-metastatic lymph nodes and blood. Human tumor CD39+ Tconv cells constituted a heterogeneous cell population with features of exhaustion, high expression of inhibitory receptors and CD107a. We found that high CD4 and ENTPD1 (CD39) gene expression in human tumor tissues correlated with a higher overall survival rate in breast cancer patients. Our results identify CD39 as a biomarker of Tconv cells, with characteristics of both exhaustion and cytotoxic potential, and indicate CD39+ Tconv cells as players within the immune response against tumors.

Proteomics of immune cells from liver tumors reveals immunotherapy targets

Elucidating the mechanisms by which immune cells become dysfunctional in tumors is critical to developing next-generation immunotherapies. We profiled proteomes of cancer tissue as well as monocyte/macrophages, CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, and NK cells isolated from tumors, liver, and blood of 48 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. We found that tumor macrophages induce the sphingosine-1-phospate-degrading enzyme SGPL1, which dampened their inflammatory phenotype and anti-tumor function in vivo. We further discovered that the signaling scaffold protein AFAP1L2, typically only found in activated NK cells, is also upregulated in chronically stimulated CD8⁺ T cells in tumors. Ablation of AFAP1L2 in CD8⁺ T cells increased their viability upon repeated stimulation and enhanced their anti-tumor activity synergistically with PD-L1 blockade in mouse models. Our data reveal new targets for immunotherapy and provide a resource on immune cell proteomes in liver cancer.

Metabolic modulation of tumours with engineered bacteria for immunotherapy

The availability of L-arginine in tumours is a key determinant of an efficient anti-tumour T cell response^1-4. Consequently, increases of typically low L-arginine concentrations within the tumour may greatly potentiate the anti-tumour responses of immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)-blocking antibodies⁵. However, currently no means are available to locally increase intratumoural L-arginine levels. Here we used a synthetic biology approach to develop an engineered probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 strain that colonizes tumours and continuously converts ammonia, a metabolic waste product that accumulates in tumours⁶, to L-arginine. Colonization of tumours with these bacteria increased intratumoural L-arginine concentrations, increased the number of tumour-infiltrating T cells and had marked synergistic effects with PD-L1 blocking antibodies in the clearance of tumours. The anti-tumour effect of these bacteria was mediated by L-arginine and was dependent on T cells. These results show that engineered microbial therapies enable metabolic modulation of the tumour microenvironment leading to enhanced efficacy of immunotherapies.

Polyfunctional KLRG-1+CD57+ Senescent CD4+ T Cells Infiltrate Tumors and Are Expanded in Peripheral Blood From Breast Cancer Patients

Senescent T cells have been described during aging, chronic infections, and cancer; however, a comprehensive study of the phenotype, function, and transcriptional program of this T cell population in breast cancer (BC) patients is missing. Compared to healthy donors (HDs), BC patients exhibit an accumulation of KLRG-1⁺CD57⁺ CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in peripheral blood. These T cells infiltrate tumors and tumor-draining lymph nodes. KLRG-1⁺CD57⁺ CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells from BC patients and HDs exhibit features of senescence, and despite their inhibitory receptor expression, they produce more effector cytokines and exhibit higher expression of Perforin, Granzyme B, and CD107a than non-senescent subsets. When compared to blood counterparts, tumor-infiltrating senescent CD4⁺ T cells show similar surface phenotype but reduced cytokine production. Transcriptional profiling of senescent CD4⁺ T cells from the peripheral blood of BC patients reveals enrichment in genes associated with NK or CD8⁺-mediated cytotoxicity, TCR-mediated stimulation, and cell exhaustion compared to non-senescent T cells. Comparison of the transcriptional profile of senescent CD4⁺ T cells from peripheral blood of BC patients with those of HDs highlighted marked similarities but also relevant differences. Senescent CD4⁺ T cells from BC patients show enrichment in T-cell signaling, processes involved in DNA replication, p53 pathways, oncogene-induced senescence, among others compared to their counterparts in HDs. High gene expression of CD4, KLRG-1, and B3GAT1 (CD57), which correlates with increased overall survival for BC patients, underscores the usefulness of the evaluation of the frequency of senescent CD4⁺ T cells as a biomarker in the follow-up of patients.

Limited Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cells Response During Acute Trypanosoma cruzi Infection Is Required to Allow the Emergence of Robust Parasite-Specific CD8+ T Cell Immunity

While it is now acknowledged that CD4⁺ T cells expressing CD25 and Foxp3 (Treg cells) regulate immune responses and, consequently, influence the pathogenesis of infectious diseases, the regulatory response mediated by Treg cells upon infection by Trypanosoma cruzi was still poorly characterized. In order to understand the role of Treg cells during infection by this protozoan parasite, we determined in time and space the magnitude of the regulatory response and the phenotypic, functional and transcriptional features of the Treg cell population in infected mice. Contrary to the accumulation of Treg cells reported in most chronic infections in mice and humans, experimental T. cruzi infection was characterized by sustained numbers but decreased relative frequency of Treg cells. The reduction in Treg cell frequency resulted from a massive accumulation of effector immune cells, and inversely correlated with the magnitude of the effector immune response as well as with emergence of acute immunopathology. In order to understand the causes underlying the marked reduction in Treg cell frequency, we evaluated the dynamics of the Treg cell population and found a low proliferation rate and limited accrual of peripheral Treg cells during infection. We also observed that Treg cells became activated and acquired a phenotypic and transcriptional profile consistent with suppression of type 1 inflammatory responses. To assess the biological relevance of the relative reduction in Treg cells frequency observed during T. cruzi infection, we transferred in vitro differentiated Treg cells at early moments, when the deregulation of the ratio between regulatory and conventional T cells becomes significant. Intravenous injection of Treg cells dampened parasite-specific CD8⁺ T cell immunity and affected parasite control in blood and tissues. Altogether, our results show that limited Treg cell response during the acute phase of T. cruzi infection enables the emergence of protective anti-parasite CD8⁺ T cell immunity and critically influences host resistance.

CD39 Expression Defines Cell Exhaustion in Tumor-Infiltrating CD8+ T Cells

The ability of CD8⁺ T lymphocytes to eliminate tumors is limited by their ability to engender an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Here we describe a subset of tumor-infiltrating CD8⁺ T cells marked by high expression of the immunosuppressive ATP ecto-nucleotidase CD39. The frequency of CD39^highCD8⁺ T cells increased with tumor growth but was absent in lymphoid organs. Tumor-infiltrating CD8⁺ T cells with high CD39 expression exhibited features of exhaustion, such as reduced production of TNF and IL2 and expression of coinhibitory receptors. Exhausted CD39⁺CD8⁺ T cells from mice hydrolyzed extracellular ATP, confirming that CD39 is enzymatically active. Furthermore, exhausted CD39⁺CD8⁺ T cells inhibited IFNγ production by responder CD8⁺ T cells. In specimens from breast cancer and melanoma patients, CD39⁺CD8⁺ T cells were present within tumors and invaded or metastatic lymph nodes, but were barely detectable within noninvaded lymph nodes and absent in peripheral blood. These cells exhibited an exhausted phenotype with impaired production of IFNγ, TNF, IL2, and high expression of coinhibitory receptors. Although T-cell receptor engagement was sufficient to induce CD39 on human CD8⁺ T cells, exposure to IL6 and IL27 promoted CD39 expression on stimulated CD8⁺ T cells from human or murine sources. Our findings show how the tumor microenvironment drives the acquisition of CD39 as an immune regulatory molecule on CD8⁺ T cells, with implications for defining a biomarker of T-cell dysfunction and a target for immunotherapeutic intervention.Significance: The tumor microenvironment elicits a subset of functionally exhausted CD8⁺ T cells by creating conditions that induce cell surface expression of CD39, an immunosuppressive molecule that can be therapeutically targeted to restore effector T-cell function. Cancer Res; 78(1); 115-28. ©2017 AACR.