title: Constitutive expression and costimulatory function of LIGHT/TNFSF14 on human melanoma cells and melanoma-derived microvesicles.
abstract: Neoplastic cells are thought to have defective expression of costimulatory molecules. However, in this study, we show that human melanoma cells express LIGHT/TNFSF14, a ligand of herpesvirus entry mediator on T cells and of lymphotoxin beta receptor on stromal cells. In vitro, melanoma cells stained for LIGHT in the intracellular compartment, with weak or negative cell surface expression. However, LIGHT was expressed on tumor-derived microvesicles released from melanoma cells. In vivo, LIGHT was found in metastatic lesions, and the extent of lymphotoxin beta receptor expression on the stromal cells was significantly associated with a "brisk" T-cell infiltrate in the neoplastic tissue. In the lesions with a brisk T-cell infiltrate, stromal cells surrounding the tumor also stained for the T-cell attractant chemokine CCL21. The intratumoral T lymphocytes frequently expressed herpesvirus entry mediator and were characterized by a differentiated phenotype. Coculture of lymphocytes with LIGHT(+) melanoma-derived microvesicles or even with LIGHT(+) melanoma cells in the presence of interleukin-2 costimulated LIGHT-dependent CD3(+)CD8(+) T-cell proliferation. However, lymphocyte coculture with LIGHT(+) microvesicles in the presence of interleukin-2 was also associated with an apoptotic response as documented by increased binding of Annexin V by CD3(+)CD8(+) T cells. These data suggest that LIGHT constitutively expressed in human melanoma cells and microvesicles may contribute to regulate T-cell responses to tumor cells.
authors.affiliation: Human Tumor Immunobiology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mortarini
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scarito
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nonaka
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zanon
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bersani
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Montaldi
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pennacchioli
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patuzzo
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santinami
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anichini
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D053326:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 14; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D017252:CD3 Complex; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; C505914:TNFSF14 protein, human; D053326:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 14; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha