B7-H1-dependent sex-related differences in tumor immunity and immunotherapy responses.
CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) are immunopathogenic in cancers by impeding tumor-specific immunity. B7-homologue 1 (B7-H1) (CD274) is a cosignaling molecule with pleiotropic effects, including hindering antitumor immunity. In this study, we demonstrate sex-dependent, B7-H1-dependent differences in tumor immunity and response to immunotherapy in a hormone-independent cancer, murine B16 melanoma. Antitumor immunity was better in B7-H1(-/-) females versus males as a result of reduced regulatory T cell function in the B7-H1(-/-) females, and clinical response following B7-H1 blockade as tumor immunotherapy was significantly better in wild-type females than in males, owing to greater B7-H1 blockade-mediated reduction of Treg function in females. Wild-type female Tregs expressed significantly lower B7-H1 versus males but were insensitive to estrogen in vitro. Female B7-H1(-/-) Tregs were exquisitely sensitive to estrogen-mediated functional reduction in vitro, suggesting that B7-H1 effects occur before terminal Treg differentiation. Immune differences were independent of known B7-H1 ligands. Sex-dependent immune differences are seldom considered in designing immune therapy or interpreting immunotherapy treatment results. Our data demonstrate that sex is an important variable in tumor immunopathogenesis and immunotherapy responses through differential Treg function and B7-H1 signaling.
Lin
Pei-Yi
PY
Department of Medicine and Cancer Therapy and Research Center, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
Sun
Lishi
L
Thibodeaux
Suzanne R
SR
Ludwig
Sara M
SM
Vadlamudi
Ratna K
RK
Hurez
Vincent J
VJ
Bahar
Rumana
R
Kious
Mark J
MJ
Livi
Carolina B
CB
Wall
Shawna R
SR
Chen
Lieping
L
Zhang
Bin
B
Shin
Tahiro
T
Curiel
Tyler J
TJ
D000818:Animals; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D018122:B7-1 Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D060890:B7-H1 Antigen; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D010455:Peptides / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D018122:B7-1 Antigen; D060890:B7-H1 Antigen; C498919:Cd274 protein, mouse; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C491383:Pdcd1 protein, mouse; D010455:Peptides; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor; D010047:Ovalbumin