Ras oncoproteins transfer from melanoma cells to T cells and modulate their effector functions

J Immunol. 2012 Nov 1;189(9):4361-70. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1200019. Epub 2012 Oct 1.

Abstract

Lymphocytes establish dynamic cell-cell interactions with the cells they scan. Previous studies show that upon cell contact, various membrane-associated proteins, such as Ras-family proteins, transfer from B to T and NK lymphocytes. Mutations in RAS genes that encode constitutively active, GTP-bound, oncoproteins are rather common in human cancers; for instance, melanoma. Cancer immunoediting has been postulated to contribute to the elimination of malignant melanoma. Thus, we asked whether Ras oncoproteins can transfer from melanoma to T cells, including tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and subsequently induce functional effects in the adopting T cells. To explore this issue, we genetically engineered an HLA-A2(+) melanoma cell line, MEL526, to express GFP or GFP-tagged H-Ras mutants stably. In this study, we show by an in vitro coculture system that GFP-tagged H-Ras, but not GFP, transfers from MEL526 to T cells and localizes to the inner aspect of their plasma membrane. This cell-contact-dependent process was increased by TCR stimulation and did not require strict Ag specificity. Importantly, we found a positive correlation between the levels of the acquired constitutively active H-RasG12V and ERK1/2 phosphorylation within the adopting TILs. We also show a significant increase in IFN-γ production and cytotoxic activity in TILs that acquired H-RasG12V compared to TILs that acquired a different H-Ras mutant. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate a hitherto unknown phenomenon of intercellular transfer of Ras oncoproteins from melanoma to TILs that consequently augments their effector functions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Humans
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / immunology*
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / metabolism
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / pathology
  • Melanoma / immunology*
  • Melanoma / metabolism*
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / physiology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)