NK and CD8+ T cell-mediated eradication of poorly immunogenic B16-F10 melanoma by the combined action of IL-12 gene therapy and 4-1BB costimulation.
In previous reports, systemic administration of a stimulatory monoclonal antibody directed against the 4-1BB receptor had no effect on survival or tumor burden in mice inoculated with the poorly immunogenic B16-F10 melanoma. We combined IL-12 gene transfer with 4-1BB costimulation to explore a previously noted cooperative anti-tumor effect against this model tumor. We hypothesize that the innate immune response mediated by IL-12-activated natural killer (NK) cells initiates the activation of the immune system, leading to the priming of T cells, whereas 4-1BB costimulation enhances the function of primed tumor-specific T cells. The effect of the combination therapy on the growth of subcutaneous (s.c.) tumors and pulmonary metastasis was examined. The combination therapy significantly retarded the growth of subcutaneously-inoculated tumors, and 50% of tumor-bearing mice survived with complete tumor regression. In contrast, neither IL-12 gene transfer nor anti-4-1BB antibody administration alone was as effective. Enhanced CTL activity against both B16-F10 tumor cells and TRP-2-pulsed EL4 syngeneic tumor cells was observed in tumor-bearing animals treated with the combination therapy 2 weeks after treatment and, in long-term survivors from this combination therapy, at >120 days. In a pulmonary metastatic model, only the combination therapy generated significant protection against metastasis. In vivo depletion of NK or CD8(+) but not CD4(+) subsets eliminated the protective immunity. Furthermore, NK cell depletion significantly reduced both tumor-specific CTL activity and the number of tumor-specific IFN-gamma-producing cells, suggesting that this synergistic effect requires the participation of both NK and CD8(+) T cells.
Xu
Dongping
D
Carl C. Icahn Institute for Gene Therapy and Molecular Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA.
Gu
Peidi
P
Pan
Ping-Ying
PY
Li
Qingsheng
Q
Sato
Alice I
AI
Chen
Shu-Hsia
SH
D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015703:Antigens, CD; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007167:Immunotherapy; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000276:immunology*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000276:immunology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic; D053261:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; C505715:Tnfrsf9 protein, mouse; D053261:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9; D018664:Interleukin-12