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Hardtke-Wolenski M, Kraus L, Schmetz C, Trautewig B, Noyan F, Vondran FWR, Bektas H, Klempnauer J, Jaeckel E, Lieke T. Exchange of cytosolic content between T cells and tumor cells activates CD4 T cells and impedes cancer growth. PLoS One 2013; 8:e78558. [PMID: 24205259 PMCID: PMC3813479 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2013] [Accepted: 09/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND T cells are known to participate in the response to tumor cells and react with cytotoxicity and cytokine release. At the same time tumors established versatile mechanisms for silencing the immune responses. The interplay is far from being completely understood. In this study we show contacts between tumor cells and lymphocytes revealing novel characteristics in the interaction of T cells and cancer cells in a way not previously described. METHODS/ FINDINGS Experiments are based on the usage of a hydrophilic fluorescent dye that occurs free in the cytosol and thus transfer of fluorescent cytosol from one cell to the other can be observed using flow cytometry. Tumor cells from cell lines of different origin or primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells were incubated with lymphocytes from human and mice. This exposure provoked a contact dependent uptake of tumor derived cytosol by lymphocytes--even in CD4⁺ T cells and murine B cells--which could not be detected after incubation of lymphocytes with healthy cells. The interaction was a direct one, not requiring the presence of accessory cells, but independent of cytotoxicity and TCR engagement. Electron microscopy disclosed 100-200 nm large gaps in the cell membranes of connected cells which separated viable and revealed astonishing outcome. While the lymphocytes were induced to proliferate in a long term fashion, the tumor cells underwent a temporary break in cell division. The in vitro results were confirmed in vivo using a murine acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) model. The arrest of tumor proliferation resulted in a significant prolonged survival of challenged mice. CONCLUSIONS The reported cell-cell contacts reveal new characteristics i.e. the enabling of cytosol flow between the cells including biological active proteins that influence the cell cycle and biological behaviour of the recipient cells. This adds a completely new aspect in tumor induced immunology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Hardtke-Wolenski
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Lilli Kraus
- Department of General-, Visceral- and Transplantation Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Christel Schmetz
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Parasitology Section, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Britta Trautewig
- Department of General-, Visceral- and Transplantation Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Fatih Noyan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Florian W. R. Vondran
- ReMediES, Department of General-, Visceral- and Transplantation Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Hueseyin Bektas
- ReMediES, Department of General-, Visceral- and Transplantation Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Juergen Klempnauer
- Department of General-, Visceral- and Transplantation Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Elmar Jaeckel
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Thorsten Lieke
- ReMediES, Department of General-, Visceral- and Transplantation Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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Abstract
Tumor metastasis can occur years after an apparent cure due to a phenomenon known as metastatic tumor dormancy; in which tumor masses or individual tumor cells are growth restricted for extended periods of time. This period of dormancy is induced and maintained by several mechanisms, including: (1) Tumor microenvironment factors such as cytokine expression, immunosurveillance and angiogenesis; (2) Metastasis suppressor gene activity; and (3) Cancer therapeutics. Disseminated tumor cells (DTC) are the key cells that result in dormant tumors. However, many challenges exist towards isolating DTCs for mechanistic studies. The main DTC that may represent the dormant cell is the cancer stem cells (CSC) as they have a slow proliferation rate. In addition to limited knowledge regarding induction of tumor dormancy, there are large gaps in knowledge regarding how tumors escape from dormancy. Emerging research into cancer stem cells, immunotherapy, and metastasis suppressor genes, may lead to new approaches for targeted anti-metastatic therapy to prevent dormancy escape. Overall, an enhanced understanding of tumor dormancy is critical for better targeting and treatment of patients to prevent cancer recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Osisami
- Department of Urology, University of Michigan Medical School, 5111 CCGC1500 E. Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0940, USA.
| | - Evan T Keller
- Department of Urology, University of Michigan Medical School, 5111 CCGC1500 E. Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0940, USA.
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Abstract
Regulatory T cells (T(regs) ) are crucial in mediating immune homeostasis and promoting the establishment and maintenance of peripheral tolerance. However, in the context of cancer their role is more complex, and they are thought to contribute to the progress of many tumours. As cancer cells express both self- and tumour-associated antigens, T(regs) are key to dampening effector cell responses, and therefore represent one of the main obstacles to effective anti-tumour responses. Suppression mechanisms employed by T(regs) are thought to contribute significantly to the failure of current therapies that rely on induction or potentiation of anti-tumour responses. This review will focus on the current evidence supporting the central role of T(regs) in establishing tumour-specific tolerance and promoting cancer escape. We outline the mechanisms underlying their suppressive function and discuss the potential routes of T(regs) accumulation within the tumour, including enhanced recruitment, in-situ or local proliferation, and de-novo differentiation. In addition, we review some of the cancer treatment strategies that act, at least in part, to eliminate or interfere with the function of T(regs) . The role of T(regs) is being recognized increasingly in cancer, and controlling the function of these suppressive cells in the tumour microenvironment without compromising peripheral tolerance represents a significant challenge for cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Oleinika
- Chemokine Research Group, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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Abstract
The continual interaction of the immune system with a developing tumor is thought to result in the establishment of a dynamic state of equilibrium. This equilibrium depends on the balance between effector and regulatory T-cell compartments. Whereas regulatory T cells can infiltrate and accumulate within tumors, effector T cells fail to efficiently do so. Furthermore, effector T cells that do infiltrate the tumor become tightly controlled by different regulatory cellular subsets and inhibitory molecules. The outcome of this balance is critical to survival, and whereas in some cases the equilibrium can rapidly result in the elimination of the transformed cells by the immune system, in many other cases the tumor manages to escape immune control. In this review, we discuss relevant work focusing on the establishment of the intratumor balance, the dynamic changes in the populations of effector and regulatory T cells within the tumor, and the role of the tumor vasculature and its activation state in the recruitment of different T-cell subsets. Finally, we also discuss work associated to the manipulation of the immune response to tumors and its impact on the infiltration, accumulation, and function of tumor-reactive lymphocytes within the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio A. Quezada
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and Department of Immunology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Karl S. Peggs
- Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, Paul O’Gorman Building, University College London, 72 Huntley Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Tyler R. Simpson
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and Department of Immunology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - James P. Allison
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and Department of Immunology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10021, USA
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Abstract
The ability of the immune system to identify and destroy nascent tumors, and to thereby function as a primary defense against cancer, has been debated for many decades. Recent findings by a number of investigators in both mouse models of cancer and humans with cancer now offer compelling evidence that particular immune cell types, effector molecules, and pathways can sometimes collectively function as extrinsic tumor suppressor mechanisms. This work provides the basis for further study of natural immunity to cancer and for rational use of this information in the design of immunotherapies in combination with other conventional cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy B Swann
- Cancer Immunology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne 8006, Victoria, Australia
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Abstract
T cell responses are altered in the aged in a manner usually interpreted as detrimental to host defences against infectious agents and possibly also against cancer. T cell dysregulation may be caused by any or a combination of stem cell deficits, compromised T cell differentiation, inefficient antigen processing and presentation by antigen presenting cells, suboptimal processing of the antigenic signal by T cells or inability of the T cell to respond appropriately thereafter. This review will focus on altered T cell signalling in ageing, encompassing not only alterations in signal transduction by the antigen-specific T cell receptor, but changes in the balance of positive and negative T cell costimulation and the resultant modified cytokine environment, the response to which is itself altered in ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Pawelec
- Tübingen Ageing and Tumour Immunology Group, Second Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tübingen Medical School, Zentrum für Medizinsche Forschung, Waldhörnlestr. 22, D-72072, Tubingen, Germany.
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