Inhibition of the dipeptidyl peptidase DPP4 (CD26) reveals IL-33-dependent eosinophil-mediated control of tumor growth

Nat Immunol. 2019 Mar;20(3):257-264. doi: 10.1038/s41590-019-0321-5. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Abstract

Post-translational modification of chemokines mediated by the dipeptidyl peptidase DPP4 (CD26) has been shown to negatively regulate lymphocyte trafficking, and its inhibition enhances T cell migration and tumor immunity by preserving functional chemokine CXCL10. By extending those initial findings to pre-clinical models of hepatocellular carcinoma and breast cancer, we discovered a distinct mechanism by which inhibition of DPP4 improves anti-tumor responses. Administration of the DPP4 inhibitor sitagliptin resulted in higher concentrations of the chemokine CCL11 and increased migration of eosinophils into solid tumors. Enhanced tumor control was preserved in mice lacking lymphocytes and was ablated after depletion of eosinophils or treatment with degranulation inhibitors. We further demonstrated that tumor-cell expression of the alarmin IL-33 was necessary and sufficient for eosinophil-mediated anti-tumor responses and that this mechanism contributed to the efficacy of checkpoint-inhibitor therapy. These findings provide insight into IL-33- and eosinophil-mediated tumor control, revealed when endogenous mechanisms of DPP4 immunoregulation are inhibited.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Movement / immunology
  • Chemokine CCL11 / immunology
  • Chemokine CCL11 / metabolism
  • Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 / immunology*
  • Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 / metabolism
  • Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Eosinophils / drug effects
  • Eosinophils / immunology*
  • Eosinophils / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-33 / immunology*
  • Interleukin-33 / metabolism
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / immunology*
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / metabolism
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / prevention & control
  • Sitagliptin Phosphate / pharmacology

Substances

  • Chemokine CCL11
  • Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors
  • Interleukin-33
  • Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4
  • Dpp4 protein, mouse
  • Sitagliptin Phosphate