Human squamous cell carcinomas evade the immune response by down-regulation of vascular E-selectin and recruitment of regulatory T cells

RA Clark, SJ Huang, GF Murphy, IG Mollet… - The Journal of …, 2008 - rupress.org
RA Clark, SJ Huang, GF Murphy, IG Mollet, D Hijnen, M Muthukuru, CF Schanbacher…
The Journal of experimental medicine, 2008rupress.org
Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the skin are sun-induced skin cancers that are
particularly numerous in patients on T cell immunosuppression. We found that blood vessels
in SCCs did not express E-selectin, and tumors contained few cutaneous lymphocyte
antigen (CLA)+ T cells, the cell type thought to provide cutaneous immunosurveillance.
Tumors treated with the Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7 agonist imiquimod before excision showed
induction of E-selectin on tumor vessels, recruitment of CLA+ CD8+ T cells, and histological …
Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the skin are sun-induced skin cancers that are particularly numerous in patients on T cell immunosuppression. We found that blood vessels in SCCs did not express E-selectin, and tumors contained few cutaneous lymphocyte antigen (CLA)+ T cells, the cell type thought to provide cutaneous immunosurveillance. Tumors treated with the Toll-like receptor (TLR)7 agonist imiquimod before excision showed induction of E-selectin on tumor vessels, recruitment of CLA+ CD8+ T cells, and histological evidence of tumor regression. SCCs treated in vitro with imiquimod also expressed vascular E-selectin. Approximately 50% of the T cells infiltrating untreated SCCs were FOXP3+ regulatory T (T reg) cells. Imiquimod-treated tumors contained a decreased percentage of T reg cells, and these cells produced less FOXP3, interleukin (IL)-10, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. Treatment of T reg cells in vitro with imiquimod inhibited their suppressive activity and reduced FOXP3, CD39, CD73, IL-10, and TGF-β by indirect mechanisms. In vivo and in vitro treatment with imiquimod also induced IL-6 production by effector T cells. In summary, we find that SCCs evade the immune response at least in part by down-regulating vascular E-selectin and recruiting T reg cells. TLR7 agonists neutralized both of these strategies, supporting their use in SCCs and other tumors with similar immune defects.
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