Human CD4 cytotoxic T lymphocytes mediate potent tumor control via tumor cell HLA 2 class II expression in a humanized immune system mouse model
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ABSTRACT: Efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer can be limited by dysfunction of CD8 T cells or down-regulation of HLA class I. Tumor control mechanisms independent of the CD8/HLA-I axis would bypass these limitations. CD4 cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) have been detected in diverse human cancers. However, their independent roles in tumor immunity are underexplored. Here, we report CD4 T cell-dependent spontaneous tumor regression and subsequent memory responses in a humanized immune system (HIS) mouse model. HT-29 tumors, which upregulate HLA class II expression in response to IFN-γ, regressed or were eliminated in a subset of tumor implanted HIS mice. Mice with regressing tumors showed increased cytotoxic CD4 T cells in blood and tumors and enhanced HLA-II expression on tumor cells compared to mice with progressing tumors. The intratumoral CD4 T cell subset associated with tumor regression expressed multiple cytotoxic markers and exhibited clonal expansion. Notably, tumor control was abrogated by depletion of CD4 but not CD8 T cells. CD4 T cells derived from tumor-regressing mice exhibited HLA-II-dependent and tumor cell-specific killing ex vivo. Taken together, our study demonstrates a critical role of human CD4 CTLs in mediating potent tumor control independent of CD8 T cells and provides a novel platform to study human CD4 CTL-mediated anti-tumor immunity.
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE223026 | GEO | 2023/01/22
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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