The Wnt/b-catenin pathway regulates T-cell functions, including the repression of effector functions to the advantage of memory development via Tcf1. In a companion study, we demonstrate that, in human cancers, Wnt3a/b-catenin signaling maintains tumor-infiltrating T cells in a partially exhausted status. Here, we have investigated the effects of Wnt3a neutralization in vivo in a mouse tumor model. Abundant Wnt3a was released, mostly by stromal cells, in the tumor microenvironment. We tested whether Wnt3a neutralization in vivo could rescue the effector capacity of tumor-infiltrating T cells, by administering an antibody to Wnt3a to tumor-bearing mice. This therapy restrained tumor growth and favored the expansion of tumor antigen–specific CD8þ effector memory T cells with increased expression of Tbet and IFNg and reduced expression of Tcf1. However, the effect was not attributable to the interruption of T-cell–intrinsic b-catenin signaling, because Wnt3a/b-catenin activation correlated with enhanced, not reduced, T-cell effector functions both ex vivo and in vitro. Adoptively transferred CD8þ T cells, not directly exposed to the anti-Wnt3a antibody but infiltrating previously Wnt3a-neutralized tumors, also showed improved functions. The rescue of T-cell response was thus secondary to T-cell–extrinsic changes that likely involved dendritic cells. Indeed, tumor-derived Wnt3a strongly suppressed dendritic cell maturation in vitro, and anti-Wnt3a treatment rescued dendritic cell activities in vivo. Our results clarify the function of the Wnt3a/b-catenin pathway in antitumor effector T cells and suggest that Wnt3a neutralization might be a promising immunotherapy for rescuing dendritic cell activities.
Pacella, I., Cammarata, I., Focaccetti, C., Miacci, S., Gulino, A., Tripodo, C., et al. (2018). Wnt3a neutralization enhances T-cell responses through indirect mechanisms and restrains tumor growth. CANCER IMMUNOLOGY RESEARCH, 6(8), 953-964.
Data di pubblicazione: | 2018 |
Titolo: | Wnt3a neutralization enhances T-cell responses through indirect mechanisms and restrains tumor growth |
Autori: | |
Citazione: | Pacella, I., Cammarata, I., Focaccetti, C., Miacci, S., Gulino, A., Tripodo, C., et al. (2018). Wnt3a neutralization enhances T-cell responses through indirect mechanisms and restrains tumor growth. CANCER IMMUNOLOGY RESEARCH, 6(8), 953-964. |
Rivista: | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1158/2326-6066.CIR-17-0713 |
Abstract: | The Wnt/b-catenin pathway regulates T-cell functions, including the repression of effector functions to the advantage of memory development via Tcf1. In a companion study, we demonstrate that, in human cancers, Wnt3a/b-catenin signaling maintains tumor-infiltrating T cells in a partially exhausted status. Here, we have investigated the effects of Wnt3a neutralization in vivo in a mouse tumor model. Abundant Wnt3a was released, mostly by stromal cells, in the tumor microenvironment. We tested whether Wnt3a neutralization in vivo could rescue the effector capacity of tumor-infiltrating T cells, by administering an antibody to Wnt3a to tumor-bearing mice. This therapy restrained tumor growth and favored the expansion of tumor antigen–specific CD8þ effector memory T cells with increased expression of Tbet and IFNg and reduced expression of Tcf1. However, the effect was not attributable to the interruption of T-cell–intrinsic b-catenin signaling, because Wnt3a/b-catenin activation correlated with enhanced, not reduced, T-cell effector functions both ex vivo and in vitro. Adoptively transferred CD8þ T cells, not directly exposed to the anti-Wnt3a antibody but infiltrating previously Wnt3a-neutralized tumors, also showed improved functions. The rescue of T-cell response was thus secondary to T-cell–extrinsic changes that likely involved dendritic cells. Indeed, tumor-derived Wnt3a strongly suppressed dendritic cell maturation in vitro, and anti-Wnt3a treatment rescued dendritic cell activities in vivo. Our results clarify the function of the Wnt3a/b-catenin pathway in antitumor effector T cells and suggest that Wnt3a neutralization might be a promising immunotherapy for rescuing dendritic cell activities. |
URL: | http://cancerimmunolres.aacrjournals.org/content/6/8/953.full-text.pdf |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 1.01 Articolo in rivista |
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