Inflammation driven by tumour-specific Th1 cells protects against B-cell cancer.

ABSTRACT: The immune system can both promote and suppress cancer. Chronic inflammation and proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6 are considered to be tumour promoting. In contrast, the exact nature of protective antitumour immunity remains obscure. Here, we quantify locally secreted cytokines during primary immune responses against myeloma and B-cell lymphoma in mice. Strikingly, successful cancer immunosurveillance mediated by tumour-specific CD4(+) T cells is consistently associated with elevated local levels of both proinflammatory (IL-1?, IL-1? and IL-6) and T helper 1 (Th1)-associated cytokines (interferon-? (IFN-?), IL-2 and IL-12). Cancer eradication is achieved by a collaboration between tumour-specific Th1 cells and tumour-infiltrating, antigen-presenting macrophages. Th1 cells induce secretion of IL-1? and IL-6 by macrophages. Th1-derived IFN-? is shown to render macrophages directly cytotoxic to cancer cells, and to induce macrophages to secrete the angiostatic chemokines CXCL9/MIG and CXCL10/IP-10. Thus, inflammation, when driven by tumour-specific Th1 cells, may prevent rather than promote cancer.

SUBMITTER: Haabeth OA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3072106 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature