Targeting lymphotoxin β receptor with tumor-specific T lymphocytes for tumor regression

Dafeng Yang, Najam Ud Din, Darren D. Browning, Scott I. Abrams, Kebin Liu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: One of the impediments of immunotherapy against cancer is the suppression of tumor-specific CTLs in the tumor microenvironment, partly due to the selective inhibition of the perforin pathway and the emergence of Fas-resistant tumors. Therefore, we sought to identify perforin-and Fas-independent cytotoxic pathways and explored the potential of targeting LTβR with tumor-specific CTLs to induce tumor rejection in vivo. Experimental Design: Fas-resistant tumors were examined for their susceptibility to perforin-deficient (pfp) CTLs via CTL adoptive transfer in mouse models of experimental lung metastasis. The specificity of LTβR, a cell surface death receptor, in causing tumor rejection by CTLs was analyzed by LTβR-specific neutralizing monoclonal antibody in vitro. The specificity and efficacy of LTβR in the suppression of established tumors was further investigated by silencing LTβR in tumor cells in vivo. Results: pfp CTLs exhibited significant cytotoxicity against Fas-resistant tumors in vivo. The perforin- and Fas-independent cytotoxicity was directly mediated, at least in part, by the adoptively transferred CTLs. It was observed that LTβR was expressed on the tumor cell surface, and LTα, LTβ, and LIGHT, all of which are ligands for LTβR, were either constitutively expressed or activated in the tumor-specific CTLs and primary CD8+ T cells. Blocking LTβR with LTβR-specific neutralizing monoclonal antibody decreased CTL cytotoxicity in vitro. Silencing LTβR using LTβR-specific short hairpin RNA reduced the ability of pfp CTLs to induce tumor rejection in vivo. Conclusion: LTβR directly mediates CTL-directed tumor rejection in vivo. Targeting LTβR with tumor-specific CTLs is a potential therapeutic approach.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)5202-5210
Number of pages9
JournalClinical Cancer Research
Volume13
Issue number17
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2007

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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