Differential requirements for myeloid leukemia IFN-γ conditioning determine graft-versus-leukemia resistance and sensitivity
Catherine Matte-Martone ... John T. Harty, Warren D. Shlomchik
Catherine Matte-Martone ... John T. Harty, Warren D. Shlomchik
Published June 30, 2017
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2017;127(7):2765-2776. doi:10.1172/JCI85736.
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Categories: Research Article Immunology Transplantation

Differential requirements for myeloid leukemia IFN-γ conditioning determine graft-versus-leukemia resistance and sensitivity

Abstract

The graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) is potent against chronic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia (CP-CML), but blast crisis CML (BC-CML) and acute myeloid leukemias (AML) are GVL resistant. To understand GVL resistance, we studied GVL against mouse models of CP-CML, BC-CML, and AML generated by the transduction of mouse BM with fusion cDNAs derived from human leukemias. Prior work has shown that CD4+ T cell–mediated GVL against CP-CML and BC-CML required intact leukemia MHCII; however, stem cells from both leukemias were MHCII negative. Here, we show that CP-CML, BC-CML, and AML stem cells upregulate MHCII in alloSCT recipients. Using gene-deficient leukemias, we determined that BC-CML and AML MHC upregulation required IFN-γ stimulation, whereas CP-CML MHC upregulation was independent of both the IFN-γ receptor (IFN-γR) and the IFN-α/β receptor IFNAR1. Importantly, IFN-γR–deficient BC-CML and AML were completely resistant to CD4- and CD8-mediated GVL, whereas IFN-γR/IFNAR1 double-deficient CP-CML was fully GVL sensitive. Mouse AML and BC-CML stem cells were MHCI+ without IFN-γ stimulation, suggesting that IFN-γ sensitizes these leukemias to T cell killing by mechanisms other than MHC upregulation. Our studies identify the requirement of IFN-γ stimulation as a mechanism for BC-CML and AML GVL resistance, whereas independence from IFN-γ renders CP-CML more GVL sensitive, even with a lower-level alloimmune response.

Authors

Catherine Matte-Martone, Jinling Liu, Meng Zhou, Maria Chikina, Douglas R. Green, John T. Harty, Warren D. Shlomchik

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Expression of MHC molecules on mCP-CML and mBC-CML LSCs increases in the...

Figure 1

Expression of MHC molecules on mCP-CML and mBC-CML LSCs increases in the alloimmune environment, independently of cognate TCR-MHC interactions.

MHCII expression on WT and MHCII–/– mBC-CML (A, left) or mCP-CML (A, right) LSCs harvested from mice transplanted with leukemia cells but without GVH-inducing T cells. (B) Irradiated B6 mice were reconstituted with C3H.SW BM and CD4 or CD8 T cells and either mBC-CML or mCP-CML. Mice were sacrificed between days 10 and 14, and LSCs were analyzed for MHCI and MHCII expression. Representative data from at least 3 independent experiments are shown. (C) Irradiated B6 mice were reconstituted with C3H.SW BM with B6 B2m–/– mBC-CML (MHCI–) and C3H.SW CD8 cells; B6 MHCII–/– mBC-CML (MHCII–) and C3H.SW CD4 cells; or WT B6 mBC-CML and C3H.SW CD4 or CD8 cells. On day 15 after BMT, splenocytes were harvested, and MHCI and MHCII expression on mBC-CML LSCs was assessed. Similar MHC upregulation was noted on LSCs harvested from BM (data not shown). Data are representative of 3 independent experiments. (D) Mice were transplanted as in C, except with B2m–/– or MHCII–/– mCP-CML cells. MHC upregulation was also independent of TCR-MHC interactions. (E) Irradiated BALB/c mice were reconstituted with B6 BM and B6 mCP-CML with no T cells or with B6 CD4 or CD8 cells. MHCII and MHCI were upregulated on splenic mCP-CML LSCs on day 15 after BMT. Similar MHC upregulation was seen in BM LSCs (data not shown). (F) MHCIIhi and MHCIIlo mBC-CML LSCs from mice undergoing a GVHD response (C3H.SW→B6 model with GVH induced by CD4 cells) were sort purified and transferred into sublethally irradiated B6 mice. Both populations transferred disease (F, left panels). Progeny of sorted MHCIIhi and MHCIIlo mBC-CML cells recovered 15 days after transfer were MHCIIlo (F, right panel). FMO, fluorescence minus one.