Murine CD27(−) Vγ6(+) γδ T cells producing IL-17A promote ovarian cancer growth via mobilization of protumor small peritoneal macrophages

M Rei, N Gonçalves-Sousa, T Lança… - Proceedings of the …, 2014 - National Acad Sciences
M Rei, N Gonçalves-Sousa, T Lança, RG Thompson, S Mensurado, FR Balkwill, H Kulbe…
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2014National Acad Sciences
Cancer-associated inflammation mobilizes a variety of leukocyte populations that can inhibit
or enhance tumor cell growth in situ. These subsets include γδ T cells, which can infiltrate
tumors and typically provide large amounts of antitumor cytokines, such as IFN-γ. By
contrast, we report here that in a well-established transplantable (ID8 cell line) model of
peritoneal/ovarian cancer, γδ T cells promote tumor cell growth. γδ T cells accumulated in
the peritoneal cavity in response to tumor challenge and could be visualized within solid …
Cancer-associated inflammation mobilizes a variety of leukocyte populations that can inhibit or enhance tumor cell growth in situ. These subsets include γδ T cells, which can infiltrate tumors and typically provide large amounts of antitumor cytokines, such as IFN-γ. By contrast, we report here that in a well-established transplantable (ID8 cell line) model of peritoneal/ovarian cancer, γδ T cells promote tumor cell growth. γδ T cells accumulated in the peritoneal cavity in response to tumor challenge and could be visualized within solid tumor foci. Functional characterization of tumor-associated γδ T cells revealed preferential production of interleukin-17A (IL-17), rather than IFN-γ. Consistent with this finding, both T cell receptor (TCR)δ-deficient and IL-17–deficient mice displayed reduced ID8 tumor growth compared with wild-type animals. IL-17 production by γδ T cells in the tumor environment was essentially restricted to a highly proliferative CD27(−) subset that expressed Vγ6 instead of the more common Vγ1 and Vγ4 TCR chains. The preferential expansion of IL-17–secreting CD27(−) Vγ6(+) γδ T cells associated with the selective mobilization of unconventional small peritoneal macrophages (SPMs) that, in comparison with large peritoneal macrophages, were enriched for IL-17 receptor A, and for protumor and proangiogenic molecular mediators, which were up-regulated by IL-17. Importantly, SPMs were uniquely and directly capable of promoting ovarian cancer cell proliferation. Collectively, this work identifies an IL-17–dependent lymphoid/myeloid cross-talk involving γδ T cells and SPMs that promotes tumor cell growth and thus counteracts cancer immunosurveillance.
National Acad Sciences