Anti-PD-1 inhibits Foxp3+Treg cell conversion and unleashes intratumoural effector T cells thereby enhancing the efficacy of a cancer vaccine in a mouse model.
The co-inhibitory molecule PD-1 suppresses T cell responses and has been targeted in the treatment of cancer. Here, we examined the role of PD-1 in regulating the balance between regulatory and effector T cells and whether blocking PD-1 could enhance tumour vaccine-induced protective immunity. A significantly higher proportion of tumour-resident T cells expressed PD-1 and Foxp3 compared with T cells in the tumour circulation or draining lymph nodes, and this correlated with a lower frequency of IFN-γ- and TNF-secreting CD8 T cells. Blocking PD-1 with a specific antibody reduced Foxp3+regulatory T (Treg) cell induction and enhanced proliferation, cytokine production, and tumour killing by CD8 T cells. Treatment of CT26 tumour-bearing mice with anti-PD-1 in combination with a vaccine, comprising heat-shocked irradiated tumour cells and a TLR 7/8 agonist, significantly reduced tumour growth and enhanced survival. Furthermore, surviving mice resisted tumour re-challenge. The rejection of tumours in mice treated with the anti-PD-1 vaccine combination was associated with a reduction in tumour-infiltrating Treg cells and enhancement of IFN-γ-secreting CD8 T cells. Our findings demonstrate that high PD-1 expression correlates with increased tumour-infiltrating Treg cells and reduced effector T cells and that when combined with a potent antigen-adjuvant combination, blocking PD-1 effectively enhances anti-tumour immunity.
Immune Regulation Research Group, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Lydia
L
Dyck
Immune Regulation Research Group, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Mieszko M
MM
Wilk
Immune Regulation Research Group, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Mathilde
M
Raverdeau
Immune Regulation Research Group, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Alicja
A
Misiak
Bioceros, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Louis
L
Boon
Immune Regulation Research Group, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. kingston.mills@tcd.ie.
Kingston H G
KH
Mills
D000818:Animals; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C498833:Foxp3 protein, mouse
Co-inhibitory molecule; Murine tumour model; PD-1; T cell; Treg cell; Vaccine
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