High-avidity T cells are preferentially tolerized in the tumor microenvironment Journal Article

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Authors: Zhu, Z; Singh, V; Watkins, S. K.; Bronte, V.; Shoe, J. L.; Feigenbaum, L.; Hurwitz, A. A.
Article Title: High-avidity T cells are preferentially tolerized in the tumor microenvironment
Abstract: One obstacle in eliciting potent antitumor immune responses is the induction of tolerance to tumor antigens. TCR(lo) mice bearing a TCR transgene specific for the melanoma antigen tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2, Dct) harbor T cells that maintain tumor antigen responsiveness but lack the ability to control melanoma outgrowth. We used this model to determine whether higher avidity T cells could control tumor growth without becoming tolerized. As a part of the current study, we developed a second TRP-2-specific TCR transgenic mouse line (TCR(hi)) that bears higher avidity T cells and spontaneously developed autoimmune depigmentation. In contrast to TCR(lo) T cells, which were ignorant of tumor-derived antigen, TCR(hi) T cells initially delayed subcutaneous B16 melanoma tumor growth. However, persistence in the tumor microenvironment resulted in reduced IFN-gamma production and CD107a (Lamp1) mobilization, hallmarks of T-cell tolerization. IFN-gamma expression by TCR(hi) T cells was critical for upregulation of MHC-I on tumor cells and control of tumor growth. Blockade of PD-1 signals prevented T-cell tolerization and restored tumor immunity. Depletion of tumor-associated dendritic cells (TADC) reduced tolerization of TCR(hi) T cells and enhanced their antitumor activity. In addition, TADCs tolerized TCR(hi) T cells but not TCR(lo) T cells in vitro. Our findings show that T-cell avidity is a critical determinant of not only tumor control but also susceptibility to tolerization in the tumor microenvironment. For this reason, care should be exercised when considering T-cell avidity in designing cancer immunotherapeutics.
Journal Title: Cancer research
Volume: 73
Issue: 2
ISSN: 1538-7445; 0008-5472
Publisher: AACR  
Journal Place: United States
Date Published: 2013
Start Page: 595
End Page: 604
Language: eng
DOI/URL:

10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-12-1123

10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-12-1123
Notes: JID: 2984705R; 0 (Antigens, Neoplasm); 0 (Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell); EC 5.3.- (Intramolecular Oxidoreductases); EC 5.3.3.12 (dopachrome isomerase); 2012/11/30 [aheadofprint]; ppublish