TNF plays an essential role in tumor regression after adoptive transfer of perforin/IFN-gamma double knockout effector T cells

J Immunol. 2003 Feb 15;170(4):2004-13. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.170.4.2004.

Abstract

We have recently shown that effector T cells (T(E)) lacking either perforin or IFN-gamma are highly effective mediators of tumor regression. To rule out compensation by either mechanism, T(E) deficient in both perforin and IFN-gamma (perforin knockout (PKO)/IFN-gamma knockout (GKO)) were generated. The adoptive transfer of PKO/GKO T(E) mediated complete tumor regression and cured wild-type animals with established pulmonary metastases of the B16BL6-D5 (D5) melanoma cell line. PKO/GKO T(E) also mediated tumor regression in D5 tumor-bearing PKO, GKO, or PKO/GKO recipients, although in PKO/GKO recipients efficacy was reduced. PKO/GKO T(E) exhibited tumor-specific TNF-alpha production and cytotoxicity in a 24-h assay, which was blocked by the soluble TNFRII-human IgG fusion protein (TNFRII:Fc). Blocking TNF in vivo by administering soluble TNFR II fusion protein (TNFRII:Fc) significantly reduced the therapeutic efficacy of PKO/GKO, but not wild-type T(E). This study identifies perforin, IFN-gamma, and TNF as a critical triad of effector molecules that characterize therapeutic antitumor T cells. These insights could be used to monitor and potentially tune the immune response to cancer vaccines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer* / methods
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / administration & dosage
  • Antigens, CD / immunology
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • Binding, Competitive / genetics
  • Binding, Competitive / immunology
  • Cancer Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Cancer Vaccines / genetics
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / genetics
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / administration & dosage
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / metabolism
  • Injections, Intraperitoneal
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Interferon-gamma / deficiency*
  • Interferon-gamma / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / immunology
  • Lung Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Melanoma, Experimental / genetics
  • Melanoma, Experimental / immunology*
  • Melanoma, Experimental / therapy*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / deficiency*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Perforin
  • Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / administration & dosage
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / immunology
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / metabolism
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / immunology
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / transplantation*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / transplantation*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / biosynthesis
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / physiology*

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Perforin
  • Interferon-gamma