Enhancement of anti-tumor immunity by high levels of Th1 and Th17 with a combination of dendritic cell fusion hybrids and regulatory T cell depletion in pancreatic cancer

Oncol Rep. 2009 Aug;22(2):337-43.

Abstract

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an important role in immunological self-tolerance and protect the host from autoimmune disease. However, in cancer immunity, Tregs might block anti-tumor immune responses. Therefore, the depletion of Tregs using a specific agent that suppresses its function or population, such as an anti-CD25 antibody, could promote anti-tumor immune responses. In the present study, a cytotoxicity assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) assay and measuring cytokine secretion, were used to study the efficacy of Treg depletion by anti-CD25 antibody added to a dendritic cell/tumor cell (DC/TC) fusion hybrid vaccine in a murine pancreatic cancer model. All the mice treated with the combined therapy of fusion hybrid vaccine and Treg depletion rejected tumor growth in a challenging test, although the rejection rate was 20% both for mice that received the fusion hybrids alone or Treg depletion alone. In addition, combined therapy showed a significantly improved survival in comparison to other treatment or control groups. The NK cell activity for DC/TC fusion + Treg depletion was significantly higher than that for the other treatment groups. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity for DC/TC could potentially be enhanced by the addition of Treg depletion therapy. The treatments including DC/TC fusion induced IFN-gamma secreting effector cells in ELISPOT assays. Furthermore, a cytometric beads array assay used to measure cytokine secretion showed that DC/TC fusion + Treg depletion stimulated the highest levels of IFN-gamma Th1/Th2 ratios and Th17. These results demonstrate that Treg depletion combined with DC/TC fusion hybrid vaccine enhanced the efficacy of immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer by activating CTLs and NK cells.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cancer Vaccines / immunology*
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Female
  • Interleukin-10 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-17 / physiology*
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / immunology
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Depletion*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / immunology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / therapy*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / physiology*
  • Th1 Cells / immunology*
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Il2ra protein, mouse
  • Interleukin-17
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit
  • Interleukin-6
  • Interleukin-10