An increase of B cells in the tumor-bearing state has the potential to induce anti-tumor immunity.
We investigated the role of an increased amount of B cells in the tumor-bearing state. The proportion of B cells increased concomitantly with tumor development in the regional lymph nodes (LN) of BALB/c mice bearing Meth A fibrosarcoma (Meth A). Tumor development was accompanied by an increased level of IgG antibodies against Meth A. CD4+ T cells of the regional LN in the early tumor-bearing stage produced significant levels of interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 in response to in vitro stimulation with coated anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, whereas such capacities decreased in the late tumor-bearing stage. In a tumor-neutralizing assay, the growth of Meth A was significantly suppressed by a co-inoculation with splenic B cells from BALB/c mice in the late tumor-bearing state. This suppression of Meth A growth was tumor-specific and was abolished by the in vivo depletion of either CD4+ or CD8+ T cells. These findings thus suggest that tumor development was accompanied by an increase of B cells and tumor-specific IgG production, but such kinetic changes were not the result of a preferential activation of Th2 type CD4+ T cells. Furthermore, our results indicate that the increase of B cells in the tumor-bearing state has the potential to induce anti-tumor-specific T cell immunity.
Ito
O
O
Department of Immunology, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Harada
M
M
Takenoyama
M
M
Sumichika
H
H
Matsuzaki
G
G
Nomoto
K
K
D000818:Animals; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D005354:Fibrosarcoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D016207:Cytokines; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins