title: WSX1 expression in tumors induces immune tolerance via suppression of effector immune cells.
abstract: Crosstalk between tumor cells and the cognate microenvironment plays a crucial role in tumor initiation and progression. However, only a few genes are known to affect such a crosstalk. This study reveals that WSX1 plays such a role when highly expressed in tumor cells. The expression of WSX1 in Lewis Lung Carcinoma (LLC) and the melanoma cell line AGS induces the death of T cells and inhibits the production of the effector cytokine IFNγ from NK and T cells, resulting in the promotion of tumor growth. These pro-tumorigenic properties of WSX1 are independent of IL27. This key observation reveals a new pathway of tumor-host interaction, which will ultimately lead to better strategies in immune therapy to reverse tumor tolerance.
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics Research Department, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Denada
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dibra
authors.forename: Jeffry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cutrera
authors.forename: Xueqing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Shulin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018827:Carcinoma, Lewis Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D007107:Immune System; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000378:metabolism; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016513:Mice, SCID; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; C484747:Il27ra protein, mouse; D020381:Interleukin-17; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D007371:Interferon-gamma