Germinal center hypoxia in tumor-draining lymph nodes negatively regulates tumor-induced humoral immune responses in mouse models of breast cancer.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Firmino NS
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8344742 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Enlargement of the lymphatic vascular network in tumor-draining lymph nodes (LNs) often precedes LN metastasis, likely providing a lymphovascular niche for tumor cells. We investigated morphological and molecular changes associated with the lymphatic remodeling process, using the 4T1 breast cancer and B16F10 melanoma models. Lymphatic expansion in tumor-draining LNs is mediated by sprouting and proliferation of lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) as early as 4 days after tumor implantation. RNA sequencing revealed an altered transcriptional profile of LECs from tumor-draining compared to naive LNs with similar changes in both tumor models. Integrin ?IIb is upregulated in LECs of tumor-draining LNs and mediates LEC adhesion to fibrinogen in vitro. LEC-associated fibrinogen was also detected in LNs in vivo, suggesting a role of integrin ?IIb in lymphatic remodeling. Together, our results identify specific responses of LN LECs to tumor stimuli and provide insights into the mechanisms of lymphovascular niche formation in tumor-draining LNs.
| S-EPMC6315107 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) are the first organs where the metastatic spread of different types of cancer, including head and neck cancer (HNC), occurs and have therefore high prognostic relevance. Moreover, first anti-cancer immune responses have been shown to be initiated in such LNs via tumor-educated myeloid cells. Among myeloid cells present in TDLNs, neutrophils represent a valuable population and considerably participate in the activation of effector lymphocytes there. Tumor-supportive or tumor-inhibiting activity of neutrophils strongly depends on the surrounding microenvironment. Thus, type I interferon (IFN) availability has been shown to prime anti-tumor activity of these cells. In accordance, mice deficient in type I IFNs show elevated tumor growth and metastatic spread, accompanied by the pro-tumoral neutrophil bias. To reveal the mechanism responsible for this phenomenon, we have studied here the influence of defective type I IFN signaling on the immunoregulatory activity of neutrophils in TDLNs. Live imaging of such LNs was performed using two-photon microscopy in a transplantable murine HNC model. CatchupIVM-red and Ifnar1-/- (type I IFN receptor- deficient) CatchupIVM-red mice were used to visualize neutrophils and to assess their interaction with T-cells in vivo. We have evaluated spatiotemporal patterns of neutrophil/T-cell interactions in LNs in the context of type I interferon receptor (IFNAR1) availability in tumor-free and tumor-bearing animals. Moreover, phenotypic and functional analyses were performed to further characterize the mechanisms regulating neutrophil immunoregulatory capacity. We demonstrated that inactive IFNAR1 leads to elevated accumulation of neutrophils in TDLNs. However, these neutrophils show significantly impaired capacity to interact with and to stimulate T-cells. As a result, a significant reduction of contacts between neutrophils and T lymphocytes is observed, with further impairment of T-cell proliferation and activation. This possibly contributes to the enhanced tumor growth in Ifnar1-/- mice. In agreement with this, IFNAR1-independent activation of downstream IFN signaling using IFN-λ improved the immunostimulatory capacity of neutrophils in TDLNs and contributed to the suppression of tumor growth. Our results suggest that functional type I IFN signaling is essential for neutrophil immunostimulatory capacity and that stimulation of this signaling may provide a therapeutic opportunity in head and neck cancer patients.
| S-EPMC9271705 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Our previous studies found that B16-F10 melanoma growth in the rear footpad of immunocompetent mice induces marked B cell accumulation within tumor-draining popliteal lymph nodes (TDLN). This B cell accumulation drives TDLN remodeling that precedes and promotes metastasis, indicating a tumor-promoting role for TDLN B cells. Here we show that phenotypic characterization of lymphocytes in mice bearing B16-F10 melanomas identifies preferential accumulation of T2-MZP B cells in the TDLN. Comparison of non-draining LNs and spleens of tumor-bearing mice with LNs and spleens from naïve mice determined that this pattern of B cell accumulation was restricted to the TDLN. B cell-deficient and immunocompetent mice reconstituted with T2-MZP B cells but not with other B cell subsets displayed accelerated tumor growth, demonstrating that T2-MZP B cells possess regulatory activity in tumor-bearing mice. Unlike splenic regulatory B cells, however, these TDLN B cells did not exhibit increased IL-10 production, nor did they promote Treg generation in the TDLN. These findings demonstrate that tumors initially signal via the lymphatic drainage to stimulate the preferential accumulation of T2-MZP regulatory B cells. This local response may be an early and critical step in generating an immunosuppressive environment to permit tumor growth and metastasis.
| S-EPMC4507466 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundTo date, pathological examination of specimens remains largely qualitative. Quantitative measures of tissue spatial features are generally not captured. To gain additional mechanistic and prognostic insights, a need for quantitative architectural analysis arises in studying immune cell-cancer interactions within the tumor microenvironment and tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs).Methodology/principal findingsWe present a novel, quantitative image analysis approach incorporating 1) multi-color tissue staining, 2) high-resolution, automated whole-section imaging, 3) custom image analysis software that identifies cell types and locations, and 4) spatial statistical analysis. As a proof of concept, we applied this approach to study the architectural patterns of T and B cells within tumor-draining lymph nodes from breast cancer patients versus healthy lymph nodes. We found that the spatial grouping patterns of T and B cells differed between healthy and breast cancer lymph nodes, and this could be attributed to the lack of B cell localization in the extrafollicular region of the TDLNs.Conclusions/significanceOur integrative approach has made quantitative analysis of complex visual data possible. Our results highlight spatial alterations of immune cells within lymph nodes from breast cancer patients as an independent variable from numerical changes. This opens up new areas of investigations in research and medicine. Future application of this approach will lead to a better understanding of immune changes in the tumor microenvironment and TDLNs, and how they affect clinical outcomes.
| S-EPMC2928294 | biostudies-literature
Project description:PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint therapy for cancer is commonly considered to act by reactivating T cells in the tumor microenvironment. Here, we present data from 2 mouse tumor models demonstrating an essential involvement of tumor-draining lymph nodes in PD-1 and PD-L1 therapeutic efficacy. Immune activation induced by checkpoint treatment was predominantly observed in the tumor-draining, but not nondraining, lymph nodes and was reflected in local accumulation of CD8+ T cells. Surgical resection of these lymph nodes, but not contralateral lymph nodes, abolished therapy-induced tumor regressions and was associated with decreased immune infiltrate in the tumor microenvironment. Moreover, inhibitor FTY720, which locks lymphocytes in lymph organs, also abrogated checkpoint therapy, suggesting that the tumor-draining lymph nodes function as sites of T cell invigoration required for checkpoint blockade therapy. Now that PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint treatment is applied in earlier clinical stages of cancer, our preclinical data advocate for enrolling patients with their tumor-draining lymph nodes still in place, to optimally engage the antitumor immune response and thereby enhance clinical benefit.
| S-EPMC6328025 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The signaling axis from the primary tumor to the tumor-draining lymph node (TDLN) has emerged as a crucial mediator for the efficacy of immunotherapies in neoadjuvant settings, challenging the primary use of immunotherapy in adjuvant settings. TDLNs are regarded as highly opportunistic sites for cancer cell dissemination and promote further spread via several primary tumor-dependent mechanisms. Lesion-level mixed responses to antibody immunotherapy have been traced to local immune signatures present in the TDLN and the organ-specific primary tumors that they drain. However, the pharmacokinetics (PK) and biodistribution gradients of antibodies in primary tumors and TDLNs have not been systemically evaluated. These concentration gradients are critical in ensuring adequate antibody pharmacodynamic (PD) T-cell activation and/or anti-tumor response. The current work reviews the knowledge for developing physiologically-based PK and pharmacodynamic (PBPK/PD) models to quantify antibody biodistribution gradients in anatomically distinct primary tumors and TDLNs as a means to characterize the clinically observed heterogeneous responses to antibody therapies. Several clinical and pathophysiological considerations in modeling the primary tumor-TDLN axis, as well as a summary of both preclinical and clinical PK/PD lymphatic antibody disposition studies, will be provided.
| S-EPMC7935407 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Tumor draining lymph nodes are the first site of metastasis in most types of cancer. The extent of metastasis in the lymph nodes is often used in staging cancer progression. We previously showed that nanoscale TRAIL liposomes conjugated to human natural killer cells enhance their endogenous therapeutic potential in killing cancer cells cultured in engineered lymph node microenvironments. In this work, it is shown that liposomes decorated with apoptosis-inducing ligand TRAIL and an antibody against a mouse natural killer cell marker are carried to the tumor draining inguinal lymph nodes and prevent the lymphatic spread of a subcutaneous tumor in mice. It is shown that targeting natural killer cells with TRAIL liposomes enhances their retention time within the tumor draining lymph nodes to induce apoptosis in cancer cells. It is concluded that this approach can be used to kill cancer cells within the tumor draining lymph nodes to prevent the lymphatic spread of cancer.
| S-EPMC4684422 | biostudies-literature
Project description:In situ vaccination has demonstrated the feasibility of priming local immunity for systemic antitumor responses. Although direct intratumoral (IT) delivery of adjuvant is the mainstay, tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) also play essential roles in antitumor immunity. We report that directing an adjuvant to both tumors and TDLNs during in situ vaccination can induce robust antitumor responses. Conventional IT dosing leads to tumor-limited delivery of agents; however, delivery to both tumors and TDLNs can be ensured through a micellar formation. The peritumoral delivery of micellar MEDI9197 (mcMEDI), a toll-like receptor 7/8 agonist, induced significantly stronger innate and adaptive immune responses than those on conventional dosing. Optimal dosing was crucial because excessive or insufficient accumulation of the adjuvant in the TDLNs compromised therapeutic efficacy. The combination of local mcMEDI therapy significantly improved the efficacy of systemic anti-programmed death receptor 1 therapy. These data suggest that rerouting adjuvants to tumors and TDLNs can augment the therapeutic efficacy of in situ vaccination.
| S-EPMC9309043 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectivesThe role of tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) in the nodal spread of cancer cells remains unexplored. The present study evaluates the occurrence and clinical significance of human nodal TANs.MethodsThe relevance, derivation, phenotype and interactions of nodal TANs were explored via a large immunohistochemical analysis of carcinoma-draining lymph nodes, and their clinical significance was evaluated on a retrospective cohort of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC). The tumor-promoting function of nodal TAN was probed in the OSCC TCGA dataset combining TAN and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) signatures.ResultsThe pan-carcinoma screening identified a consistent infiltration (59%) of CD66b+ TANs in tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs). Microscopic findings, including the occurrence of intra-lymphatic conjugates of TANs and cancer cells, indicate that TANs migrate through lymphatic vessels. In vitro experiments revealed that OSCC cell lines sustain neutrophil viability and activation via release of GM-CSF. Moreover, by retrospective analysis, a high CD66b+ TAN density in M-TDLNs of OSCC (n = 182 patients) predicted a worse prognosis. The analysis of the OSCC-TCGA dataset unveiled that the expression of a set of neutrophil-specific genes in the primary tumor (PT) is highly associated with an EMT signature, which predicts nodal spread. Accordingly, in the PT of OSCC cases, CD66b+TANs co-localised with PDPN+S100A9- EMT-switched tumor cells in areas of lymphangiogenesis. The pro-EMT signature is lacking in peripheral blood neutrophils from OSCC patients, suggesting tissue skewing of TANs.ConclusionOur findings are consistent with a novel pro-tumoral TAN compartment that may promote nodal spread via EMT, through the lymphatics.
| S-EPMC7886597 | biostudies-literature
Project description:One mechanism contributing to immunologic unresponsiveness toward tumors may be presentation of tumor antigens by tolerogenic host APCs. We show that mouse tumor-draining LNs (TDLNs) contained a subset of plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) that constitutively expressed immunosuppressive levels of the enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). Despite comprising only 0.5% of LN cells, these pDCs in vitro potently suppressed T cell responses to antigens presented by the pDCs themselves and also, in a dominant fashion, suppressed T cell responses to third-party antigens presented by nonsuppressive APCs. Adoptive transfer of DCs from TDLNs into naive hosts created profound local T cell anergy, specifically toward antigens expressed by the transferred DCs. Anergy was prevented by targeted disruption of the IDO gene in the DCs or by administration of the IDO inhibitor drug 1-methyl-D-tryptophan to recipient mice. Within the population of pDCs, the majority of the functional IDO-mediated suppressor activity segregated with a novel subset of pDCs coexpressing the B-lineage marker CD19. We hypothesize that IDO-mediated suppression by pDCs in TDLNs creates a local microenvironment that is potently suppressive of host antitumor T cell responses.
| S-EPMC449750 | biostudies-literature