CD8(+) tumor-infiltrating T cells are deficient in perforin-mediated cytolytic activity due to defective microtubule-organizing center mobilization and lytic granule exocytosis.
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) are well known to be functionally impaired typified by the inability to lyse cognate tumor cells in vitro. We have investigated the basis for defective TIL lytic function in transplantable murine tumor models. CD8(+) TIL are nonlytic immediately on isolation even though they express surface activation markers, contain effector phase cytokine mRNAs, and contain perforin and granzyme B proteins which are packaged into lytic granules. Ag-specific lytic capability is rapidly recovered if purified TIL are briefly cultured in vitro and tumor lysis is perforin-, but not Fas ligand mediated. In response to TCR ligation of nonlytic TIL in vitro, proximal and distal signaling events are normal; calcium flux is rapid; mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-related kinase kinase, extracellular regulatory kinase 2, phosphoinositide-3 kinase, and protein kinase C are activated; and IL-2 and IFN-gamma is secreted. However, on conjugate formation between nonlytic TIL and cognate tumor cells in vitro, the microtubule-organizing center (MTOC) does not localize to the immunological synapse, thereby precluding exocytosis of preformed lytic granules and accounting for defective TIL lytic function. Recovery of TCR-mediated, activation-dependent MTOC mobilization and lytic activity requires proteasome function, implying the existence of an inhibitor of MTOC mobilization. Our findings show that the regulated release of TIL cytolytic granules is defective despite functional TCR-mediated signal transduction.
Radoja
S
S
Department of Cell Biology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Saio
M
M
Schaer
D
D
Koneru
M
M
Vukmanovic
S
S
Frey
A B
AB
D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000502:physiology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005089:Exocytosis; D051418:Focal Adhesion Kinase 2; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D022101:Microtubule-Organizing Center / Q000502:physiology*; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D054353:Perforin; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000502:physiology; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000075745:rab27 GTP-Binding Proteins
D016207:Cytokines; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D000075745:rab27 GTP-Binding Proteins; D054353:Perforin; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D051418:Focal Adhesion Kinase 2; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C512962:Rab27a protein, mouse; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins; D002118:Calcium