Th2-type CD4+ cells neither enhance nor suppress antitumor CTL activity in a mouse tumor model

J Immunol. 1998 Sep 1;161(5):2421-7.

Abstract

Many cervical cancers express the E7 protein of human papillomavirus 16 as a tumor-specific Ag (TSA). To establish the role of E7-specific T cell help in CD8+ CTL-mediated tumor regression, C57BL/6J mice were immunized with E7 protein or with a peptide (GF001) comprising a minimal CTL epitope of E7, together with different adjuvants. Immunized mice were challenged with an E7-expressing tumor cell line, EL4.E7. Growth of EL4.E7 was reduced following immunization with E7 and Quil-A (an adjuvant that induced a Th1-type response to E7) or with GF001 and Quil-A. Depletion of CD8+ cells, but not CD4+ cells, from an immunized animal abrogated protection, confirming that E7-specific CTL are necessary and sufficient for TSA-specific protection in this model. Immunization with E7 and Algammulin (an alum-based adjuvant) induced a Th2-like response and provided no tumor protection. To investigate whether a Th2 T helper response to E7 could prevent the development of an E7-specific CTL-mediated protection, mice were simultaneously immunized with E7/Algammulin and GF001/Quil-A or, alternatively, were immunized with GF001/Quil-A 8 wk after immunization with E7/Algammulin. Tumor protection was observed in each case. We conclude that an established Th2 response to a TSA does not prevent the development of TSA-specific tumor protective CTL.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / pharmacology
  • Alum Compounds
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / biosynthesis
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / immunology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Combinations
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / genetics
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology
  • Female
  • Immunity, Active
  • Inulin / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Nude
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral / biosynthesis
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral / genetics
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral / immunology
  • Papillomaviridae / immunology
  • Papillomavirus E7 Proteins
  • Peptide Fragments / immunology
  • Quillaja Saponins
  • Saponins / immunology
  • Skin Neoplasms / genetics
  • Skin Neoplasms / immunology
  • Skin Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology*
  • Th2 Cells / immunology*
  • Thymoma / genetics
  • Thymoma / immunology*
  • Thymoma / prevention & control*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Algammulin
  • Alum Compounds
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Drug Combinations
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral
  • Papillomavirus E7 Proteins
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Quillaja Saponins
  • Saponins
  • oncogene protein E7, Human papillomavirus type 16
  • Quil A
  • Inulin