TY - JOUR AU - Salazar, Ylia AU - Zheng, Xiang AU - Brunn, David AU - Raifer, Hartmann AU - Picard, Felix AU - Zhang, Yajuan AU - Winter, Hauke AU - Guenther, Stefan AU - Weigert, Andreas AU - Weigmann, Benno AU - Dumoutier, Laure AU - Renauld, Jean-Christophe AU - Waisman, Ari AU - Schmall, Anja AU - Tufman, Amanda AU - Fink, Ludger AU - Brüne, Bernhard AU - Bopp, Tobias AU - Grimminger, Friedrich AU - Seeger, Werner AU - Pullamsetti, Soni Savai AU - Huber, Magdalena AU - Savai, Rajkumar T1 - Microenvironmental Th9 and Th17 lymphocytes induce metastatic spreading in lung cancer PY - 2020/07/01/ AB - Immune microenvironment plays a critical role in lung cancer control versus progression and metastasis. In this investigation, we explored the effect of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte subpopulations on lung cancer biology by studying in vitro cocultures, in vivo mouse models, and human lung cancer tissue. Lymphocyte conditioned media (CM) induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and migration in both primary human lung cancer cells and cell lines. Correspondingly, major accumulation of Th9 and Th17 cells was detected in human lung cancer tissue and correlated with poor survival. Coculturing lung cancer cells with Th9/Th17 cells or exposing them to the respective CM induced EMT in cancer cells and modulated the expression profile of genes implicated in EMT and metastasis. These features were reproduced by the signatory cytokines IL-9 and IL-17, with gene regulatory profiles evoked by these cytokines partly overlapping and partly complementary. Coinjection of Th9/Th17 cells with tumor cells in WT, Rag1–/–, Il9r–/–, and Il17ra–/– mice altered tumor growth and metastasis. Accordingly, inhibition of IL-9 or IL-17 cytokines by neutralizing antibodies decreased EMT and slowed lung cancer progression and metastasis. In conclusion, Th9 and Th17 lymphocytes induce lung cancer cell EMT, thereby promoting migration and metastatic spreading and offering potentially novel therapeutic strategies. JF - The Journal of Clinical Investigation JA - J Clin Invest SN - 0021-9738 DO - 10.1172/JCI124037 VL - 130 IS - 7 UR - https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI124037 SP - 3560 EP - 3575 PB - The American Society for Clinical Investigation ER -