Role of GM-CSF signaling in cell-based tumor immunization

Blood. 2009 Jun 25;113(26):6658-68. doi: 10.1182/blood-2008-06-161075. Epub 2009 Mar 12.

Abstract

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a potent adjuvant in cancer vaccination; however, the specific role of endogenous GM-CSF remains unknown. We performed cell-based vaccination in 2 tumor models. First, we vaccinated C57BL/6 mice lacking either GM-CSF, IL-5, or beta-common chain (betac), a receptor subunit essential for GM-CSF and IL-5 signaling, with melanoma cells engineered to produce GM-CSF. Tumor vaccination was effective in both GM-CSF(-/-) and IL-5(-/-) mice, showing that protective immunization is independent of both endogenous cytokines. However, all betac(-/-) animals developed tumor. Loss of tumor immunity in betac(-/-) mice does not reflect global impairment in cell-mediated immunity, as contact hypersensitivity reaction to haptens is unaltered. The importance of tumor cell-derived GM-CSF was highlighted by recruitment of dendritic cells at the vaccination site in wild-type, GM-CSF(-/-), and IL-5(-/-) but not in betac(-/-) mice. In the second model, vaccination with unmodified RENCA cells showed similar results with efficient immunization in BALB/c wild-type and GM-CSF(-/-), whereas all betac(-/-) animals died. Altogether, our results strongly suggest that although endogenous GM-CSF and IL-5 are not required to induce tumor immunity, signaling through betac receptor is critically needed for efficient cancer vaccination in both genetically modified GM-CSF-secreting tumor cells and a spontaneously immunogenic models.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cancer Vaccines / immunology*
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / immunology
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / prevention & control*
  • Cell Line, Tumor / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor / transplantation
  • Culture Media, Conditioned / chemistry
  • Cytokine Receptor Common beta Subunit / deficiency
  • Cytokine Receptor Common beta Subunit / genetics
  • Cytokine Receptor Common beta Subunit / physiology*
  • Cytokines / analysis
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Dermatitis, Contact / immunology
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / deficiency
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / genetics
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / physiology*
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Interleukin-3 / deficiency
  • Interleukin-3 / genetics
  • Interleukin-3 / physiology
  • Interleukin-5 / deficiency
  • Interleukin-5 / genetics
  • Interleukin-5 / physiology
  • Kidney Neoplasms / immunology
  • Kidney Neoplasms / pathology
  • Melanoma, Experimental / immunology
  • Melanoma, Experimental / pathology
  • Melanoma, Experimental / prevention & control*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / physiology
  • Species Specificity
  • Vaccination / methods

Substances

  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Cytokine Receptor Common beta Subunit
  • Cytokines
  • Interleukin-3
  • Interleukin-5
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor