Antigen specificity determines the pro- or antitumoral nature of CD8+ T cells.
Although CD8+ T cells are usually considered antitumoral, several recent studies report that the cells can also promote tumor progression. Using the melanoma cell line B16 as a murine model of pulmonary metastasis, we examined whether the pro- versus antitumoral effects of CD8+ T cells relate to their Ag specificity. Results of the study indicate that although CD8+ T cells specific for tumor Ags promote tumor rejection, CD8+ T cells specific for unrelated Ags promote tumor progression. We found the effect to be partly attributable to CD8+ T cells dampening effective antitumor NK cell responses. Notably, activation of CD8+ T cell responses by an unrelated stimulus, in this case infection with influenza virus, increased the number of pulmonary tumor nodules. These data provide a rationale for previously unexplained data identifying contrasting roles for CD8+ T cells in tumor progression.
Cuff
Simone
S
Department of Infection, Immunity and Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom. cuffsm@cf.ac.uk
Dolton
Garry
G
Matthews
R James
RJ
Gallimore
Awen
A
D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D018450:Disease Progression; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D037182:T-Cell Antigen Receptor Specificity / Q000276:immunology*
D000941:Antigens; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D010047:Ovalbumin