CD95 ligand-expressing tumors are rejected in anti-tumor TCR transgenic perforin knockout mice

CD95 (APO-/Fas) ligand (CD95L) is a member of the TNF family predominantly expressed by activated T and NK cells but also by tumors of diverse cellular origin. CD95L trimerizes surface CD95 expressed by target cells that subsequently undergo apoptosis. The role of the CD95/CD95L system in the down-regulation of an immune response (activation-induced cell death) is established. However, it is so far unclear why tumors express CD95L. To investigate whether tumors use the CD95L to down-regulate an anti-tumor immune response, we established a transgenic (tg) mouse model consisting of 1) apoptosis-resistant tumor cells, designated LKC-CD95L, which express functional CD95L and the model tumor Ag K(b); and 2) perforin knockout (PKO) anti-K(b) TCR tg mice. L1210-Fas antisense expressing K(b), crmA, and CD95L (LKC-CD95L) killed CD95(+) unrelated tumor targets and Con A-activated splenocytes from anti-K(b) TCR tg PKO mice by a CD95L-dependent mechanism in vitro. However, we could not detect any cytotoxic activity against anti-tumor (anti-K(b)) T cells in vivo. We also observed reduced growth of LKC-CD95L in nude mice and rapid rejection in anti-K(b) TCR tg PKO mice. Because the tumor cells are resistant to CD95L-, TNF-alpha-, and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-induced apoptosis and the mice used are perforin-deficient, the involvement of these four cytotoxicity mechanisms in tumor rejection can be excluded. The histological examination of tumors grown in nude mice showed infiltration of LKC-CD95L tumors by neutrophils, whereas L1210-Fas antisense expressing K(b) and crmA (LKC) tumor tissue was neutrophil-free. Chemotaxis experiments revealed that CD95L has no direct neutrophil-attractive activity. Therefore, we conclude that LKC-CD95L cells used an indirect mechanism to attract neutrophils that may cause tumor rejection.     

Immunological resistance to L1210 leukemia induced by viable L1210/DTIC cells

Summary Permanent, drug-induced antigenic alterations, not detectable in parental cells and transmissible after the withdrawal of treatment with the drug, have been obtained in mouse lymphoma. Viable L1210/DTIC cells, because they are rejected by syngeneic animals and carry L1210-associated TAA, can elicit host resistance to a subsequent inoculum of parental L1210. Mice challenged with viable L1210/DTIC cells, following rejection, were more resistant than mice immunized with inactivated parental cells. Resistance was specific and related to the immunogenicity of the TAA of the original tumor line employed.Active immunization was potentiated by adoptive transfer of immune lymphocytes, as evidenced by marked improvement in animal survival. Also, the treatment of tumor-bearing animals with anticancer compounds in conjunction with immunological alteration may result in an improved therapeutic response. BCNU administered to immunized animals 6 days after challenge with parental tumor cells resulted in augmented host survival, possibly attributable to partial resistance of a secondary immune response to the drug and a late nadir of immunosuppression, occurring after the completion of therapeutic action. Cyclophosphamide given before immunization enhanced host survival to a subsequent challenge of L1210 leukemia, conceivably as the result of preferential inhibition of T suppressor cells.     

Isolation and characterization of a tumor-specific T suppressor factor from a T cell hybridoma

In our laboratory we have described a monoclonal antibody, B16G, which has been shown to bind to suppressive T cell factors (TsF) in DBA/2 mice. Therefore, B16G was used as a probe to identify T cell hybridomas secreting putative TsF. Hybridomas were obtained by the fusion of DBA/2 thymocytes stimulated in vivo by P815 tumor membrane extracts with the thymoma BW5147. One such hybridoma, A10, was selected and used for additional studies. From both the supernatants and ascites fluid of this hybrid a factor could be obtained that could specifically bind to both B16G and P815 antigen immunoadsorbent columns, and that scored positively with B16G in an ELISA after elution. Such reactivity could not be obtained from A10 supernatants or ascites absorbed over irrelevant columns, nor was it obtained from supernatants or ascites from other T cell hybrids that had scored B16G nonreactive in the original screening. In vivo studies indicated that affinity-purified A10 material injected into DBA/2J mice enhanced significantly the growth of P815 tumor cells, but not the growth of other DBA/2 syngeneic tumor lines such as L1210 or M-I. Additionally, this material did not inhibit the in vitro mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR) between DBA/2 splenocytes and allogeneic B10.BR target cells (unlike B16G purified material from whole DBA/2 spleens, which has been demonstrated to be suppressive in this type of MLR). Biochemical analysis of this tumor-specific TsF from A10 was undertaken; the native m.w. was found to be in the region of 80,000 and 90,000. Under reducing conditions, affinity-purified A10 TsF was found to resolve in SDS-PAGE as what appeared to be a heterodimer of 45,000 and 43,000. In most preparations, an associated molecule resolving at about 25,000 was observed. The implications of these observations are discussed.     

Potentiation of the efficacy of murine L1210 leukemia vaccine by a novel immunostimulator 7-thia-8-oxoguanosine: Increased survival after immunization with vaccine plus 7-thia-8-oxoguanosine

Summary We have investigated the ability of a novel immunopotentiator, 7-thia-8-oxoguanosine (7T8OG) to increase the efficacy of a weakly immunogenic murine L1210 leukemia vaccine. The vaccine was prepared by irradiating L1210 leukemia cells in a cesium source with a total of 6000-R dose. DBA/2 mice were treated with 150 mg/kg 7T8OG and/or with vaccine consisting of 10⁷ irradiated cells. In combination therapy, mice first received the vaccine and then were injected with 75 mg/kg 7T8OG 2 h and 4 h after vaccination. One week after the last treatment all mice were inoculated with 10⁴ live leukemia cells intraperitoneally. Control, untreated mice (n = 66) injected with 10⁴ live leukemia cells had a mean survival time ± standard error of 10.5±0.2 days. Treating mice (n = 66) with one, two or three doses of 7T8OG administered i.p. 1 week apart did not increase survival (mean survival time = 10.7 days). Mice immunized with one, two or three doses of vaccine had 14.5±1.1, 45.4±6.2 and 68.3±10.6 days mean survival, respectively. 7T8OG-stimulated vaccination increased the survival dramatically. The best survival was noted when the mice were treated with 2× (vaccine + 7T8OG). Immunization of mice (n = 30) with this treatment regimen increased the mean survival to 156±10.0 days. Over 90% of mice that were treated this way had a cumulative survival time greater than 160 days. In contrast, only 12% of the mice immunized twice with the leukemia vaccine alone survived over 160 days. These results suggest a rationale for the use of this immuno-potentiator with various vaccines for a more effective immunization.     

Sequential Cisplatin Therapy and Vaccination with HPV16 E6E7L2 Fusion Protein in Saponin Adjuvant GPI-0100 for the Treatment of a Model HPV16+ Cancer

Clinical studies suggest that responses to HPV16 E6E7L2 fusion protein (TA-CIN) vaccination alone are modest, and GPI-0100 is a well-tolerated, potent adjuvant. Here we sought to optimize both the immunogenicity of TA-CIN via formulation with GPI-0100 and treatment of HPV16+ cancer by vaccination after cisplatin chemotherapy. HPV16 neutralizing serum antibody titers, CD4+ T cell proliferative and E6/E7-specific CD8+ T cell responses were significantly enhanced when mice were vaccinated subcutaneously (s.c.) or intramuscularly (i.m.) with TA-CIN formulated with GPI-0100. Vaccination was tested for therapy of mice bearing syngeneic HPV16 E6/E7+ tumors (TC-1) either in the lung or subcutaneously. Mice treated with TA-CIN/GPI-0100 vaccination exhibited robust E7-specific CD8+ T cell responses, which were associated with reduced tumor burden in the lung, whereas mice receiving either component alone were similar to controls. Since vaccination alone was not sufficient for cure, mice bearing s.c. TC-1 tumor were first treated with two doses of cisplatin and then vaccinated. Vaccination with TA-CIN/GPI-0100 i.m. substantially retarded tumor growth and extended survival after cisplatin therapy. Injection of TA-CIN alone, but not GPI-0100, into the tumor (i.t.) was similarly efficacious after cisplatin therapy, but the mice eventually succumbed. However, tumor regression and extended remission was observed in 80% of the mice treated with cisplatin and then intra-tumoral TA-CIN/GPI-0100 vaccination. These mice also exhibited robust E7-specific CD8+ T cell and HPV16 neutralizing antibody responses. Thus formulation of TA-CIN with GPI-0100 and intra-tumoral delivery after cisplatin treatment elicits potent therapeutic responses in a murine model of HPV16+ cancer.     

Nonspecific down-regulation of CD8+ T-cell responses in mice expressing human papillomavirus type 16 E7 oncoprotein from the keratin-14 promoter

The E7 oncoprotein of human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) transforms basal and suprabasal cervical epithelial cells and is a tumor-specific antigen in cervical carcinoma, to which immunotherapeutic strategies aimed at cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) induction are currently directed. By quantifying major histocompatibility complex class I tetramer-binding T cells and CTL in mice expressing an HPV16 E7 transgene from the keratin-14 (K14) promoter in basal and suprabasal keratinocytes and in thymic cortical epithelium, we show that antigen responsiveness of both E7- and non-E7-specific CD8+ cells is down-regulated compared to non-E7 transgenic control mice. We show that the effect is specific for E7, and not another transgene, expressed from the K14 promoter. Down-regulation did not involve deletion of CD8+ T cells of high affinity or high avidity, and T-cell receptor (TCR) Vbeta-chain usage and TCR receptor density were similar in antigen-responsive cells from E7 transgenic and non-E7 transgenic mice. These data indicate that E7 expressed chronically from the K14 promoter nonspecifically down-regulates CD8+ T-cell responses. The in vitro data correlated with the failure of immunized E7 transgenic mice to control the growth of an E7-expressing tumor challenge. We have previously shown that E7-directed CTL down-regulation correlates with E7 expression in peripheral but not thymic epithelium (T. Doan et al., J. Virol. 73:6166-6170, 1999). The findings have implications for the immunological consequences of E7-expressing tumor development and E7-directed immunization strategies. Generically, the findings illustrate a T-cell immunomodulatory function for a virally encoded human oncoprotein.     

Effect of levamisole on cytotoxic T-cell-mediated immune resistance to L1210 murine leukemia in hyperimmune mice

Summary The effect of levamisole (LMS) on T-cell-mediated antitumor immunity was examined in adult and aged mice hyperimmune to L1210 leukemia. The immune resistance of aged mice was depressed compared with that of adult mice, which almost completely rejected 5×10⁷ L1210 cells inoculated IP. A significant level of tumor-specific cytotoxicity was detected in the spleen cells of adult hyperimmune mice by the ⁵¹Cr-release assay after in vitro sensitization with mitomycin C-treated L1210 cells. This was mediated by cytotoxic T cells, since in vivo administration of antithymocyte serum or in vitro treatment of the spleen cells with anti-Thy 1.2 antibody and complement abrogated the cytotoxicity completely. In aged mice, however, cytotoxic T-cell activity was lower although the animals were immune to L1210.Administration of LMS (0.38 mg/kg) restored the depressed cytotoxicity of aged mice to the level seen in adult mice. Furthermore, in adult hyperimmune mice LMS augmented T-cell-mediated cytotoxic activity and restored the reduced cytotoxicity caused by in vivo administration of antithymocyte serum. These results indicate that LMS was effective in augmenting T-cell-mediated tumor immunity in immunologically competent or deficient hosts.     

Failure of specific adoptive immunotherapy owing to survival and outgrowth of variant cells

Summary Adoptive immunotherapy, the transfer of spleen cells from immunized mice to mice with a small tumor, was usually curative for mice with the P815 mastocytoma provided that steps were taken to prevent the generation of tumor-induced suppressor cells in the recipient animal. However, failure of adoptive immunotherapy of the P815 tumor, resulting in regrowth of either the primary intradermal or a metastatic tumor, was observed in 10 out of 112 animals receiving graded doses of 7.5×10⁷ to 3.0×10⁸ immune spleen cells. Examination of the ten tumors in mice that failed to respond to therapy revealed that seven of them were significantly less susceptible than the original P815 tumor to rejection in vivo by transferred anti-P815-specific effector cells. In addition, nine of the ten therapy-failure tumors were also less susceptible than the original P815 tumor to lysis in vitro by P815-specific, but not DBA/2-specific, cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Sensitivity to lysis by tumor-specific cytotoxic T cells was not, however, strongly correlated with sensitivity to rejection in vivo by P815-specific effector spleen cells. Neither in vivo sensitivity to rejection, nor sensitivity to cytotoxic T cells, was correlated with alterations in class I major histocompatibility complex antigen expression. These results suggest that the survival and outgrowth of variant tumor cells was frequently the cause of failure of specific adoptive immunotherapy of the P815 tumor, and that selection for cells with a reduced sensitivity to killing by cytotoxic T cells was only one mechanism that might lead to an immunotherapeutic failure.This work was supported by a grant from RJR Nabisco Inc., a grant from the J. M. Foundation, and by USPHS grant CA-40597 awarded by the National Cancer Institute     

Idiotypic intramolecular help. Induction of tumor-specific antibodies by monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody with the help of Fc-specific T helper clones

In this study, the mechanism of anti-Id vaccination was investigated by using cloned Th cells and an anti-idiotypic mAb. 2F10, an anti-idiotypic mAb derived from an Igh1-e allotype mouse strain, which induces protection against the L1210/GZL DBA/2 tumor, was used to prime DBA/2 mice. An Fc (Igh1-e)-specific syngeneic Th clone was cocultured in the presence of 2F10 anti-Id with 2F10-Fab-primed B cells. The Th clone responded with proliferation and also provided help for 2F10-Fab-primed B cells to produce antibodies that bind to L1210/GZL and not to P815 tumor cells. Intact 2F10 anti-Id was presented to Fc-specific Th cells by Fab (or Id) primed B cells more efficiently than the fragment mixture (Fab plus Fc) of 2F10 anti-Id, indicating that 2F10-Fab (or Id)-primed B cells capture 2F10 anti-Id through surface Ig receptors. Presenting B cells are sensitive to treatment with chloroquine and must come from H-2 matched mice, indicating that the Ag presentation by Fab-primed B cells to Fc-specific Th cells requires processing and is MHC restricted. Collectively these results outline a mechanism that may operate in anti-Id therapy of tumor-bearing animals by using tumor Ag mimicking anti-idiotypic antibodies. A similar mechanism could be effective in tumor patients immunized with xenogeneic anti-idiotypic antibodies operating under the "intra(Ag) molecular help."     

Tumor-specific idiotype vaccines. II. Analysis of the tumor-related network response induced by the tumor and by internal image antigens (Ab2 beta)

In this study the tumor-specific immuneresponse induced by irradiated tumor cells (L1210/GZL) and by anti-idiotype antibodies was analyzed. The anti-idiotype antibodies (Ab2) were made against the paratope of a monoclonal antitumor antibody (11C1) that recognizes a tumor-associated antigen which cross-reacts with the mouse mammary tumor virus-encoded envelope glycoprotein 52. Two Ab2, 2F10 and 3A4, induced idiotypes expressed by the monoclonal antitumor antibodies 11C1 and 2B2. Cytotoxic T cells, generated by immunization with irradiated tumor cells, lyse 2F10 and 3A4 hybridoma cells. Furthermore, immunization with Ab2 induces tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The frequency of tumor-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocyte was found to be similar in mice immunized with Ab2 or irradiated tumor cells when examined at the precursor level. However, only 2F10 induces protective immunity against the growth of L1210/GZL tumor cells. The depletion of a L3T4+ T cell population from 2F10 immune mice was found to increase the effectiveness of transferred T cells to induce inhibition of tumor growth. The inability of 3A4 to induce antitumor immunity could be correlated with the presence of a population of Lyt2+ regulatory T cells. Collectively, these results demonstrate the existence of a regulatory network controlling the expression of effective tumor immunity. Our results demonstrate that selection of binding site-related Ab2 may not be a sufficient criteria for the development of an idiotype vaccine. A better understanding of the regulatory interactions induced by anti-idiotypes is needed for the design of effective antitumor immunotherapy.     

Factors responsible for immune resistance to L1210 murine leukemia in hyperimmune mice

Summary The serum of mice hyperimmune to L1210 leukemia was cytotoxic to L1210 cells and, to a much lesser extent, to P388 cells in the presence of complement. However, it did not suppress in vitro growth of L1210 cells, nor did it endow a recipient mouse with immunity to inoculated L1210 cells. This indicates that the serum did not play a significant role, if any, in immune protection of hyperimmune mice.Spleen and peritoneal exudate cells of hyperimmune mice suppressed the in vitro growth of L1210 but not of P388 cells. This is consistent with the fact that hyperimmune mice did not survive the inoculation of P388 cells. The immunocytes failed to suppress the in vitro growth of L1210 cells when preincubated with anti-Thy-1.2 antisera and complement. This, together with the finding that cell populations not adherent to a plastic dish suppressed in vitro growth of L1210 cells, indicates that T cells of immune spleen and peritoneal exudate cell populations were the effectors that suppressed in vitro growth of L1210 cells. Hyperimmune mice lost their immune protection in vivo following the administration of anti-thymocyte antisera, but not with carrageenan or silica, which resulted in the lethal growth of the inoculated L1210 cells. This indicates that T cells were in vivo effectors in immune protection.Hyperimmune spleen T cells endowed a recipient with immunity to L1210 leukemia when transferred in vivo. This confirmed the above results and suggests the applicability of immune cells in an adoptive immunotherapy approach.     

Regulation of Ia+ reticulum cell sarcoma (RCS) growth in syngeneic SJL/J mice. I. Inhibition of tumor growth by passive administration of L3T4 monoclonal antibody before or after tumor inoculation

Spontaneously arising reticulum cell sarcoma (RCS) tumors in SJL/J mice stimulate syngeneic host T lymphocytes to proliferate and are dependent on host T cells for maintenance and growth. Tumor-associated Ia antigens have been implicated in the proliferative response both in vivo and in vitro, and the responding T cells are predominantly Lyt-1+2- L3T4+. We hypothesized that elimination or depletion of the responding L3T4 subpopulation in vivo should inhibit growth of transplantable RCS tumors, and continued RCS growth may be dependent on the continued presence of L3T4 cells. This hypothesis was tested experimentally by examining the effect of passive administration of L3T4 monoclonal antibody (mAb) into SJL/J mice either before or at different times after tumor inoculation. The tumor inoculum used killed all mice 15 to 30 days after injection. Administration of a single dose of L3T4 mAb 4 days before tumor inoculation resulted in complete depletion of L3T4 cells and complete inhibition of tumor growth. The antibody-treated mice survived with no sign of tumor growth even after complete recovery of L3T4+ cells. These results demonstrate that initiation of tumor growth is dependent on host L3T4+ cells. Administration of mAb as late as 7 days after tumor inoculation resulted in inhibition of tumor growth, and administration of mAb at day 10 resulted in significant inhibition of tumor growth. Compared with the kinetics of tumor growth in normal control mice, administration of L3T4 after tumor inoculation results in tumor growth arrest. These findings demonstrate that continued tumor growth in vivo is dependent on the presence of L3T4+ cells. In the RCS system, the present studies show that administration of mAb to L3T4+ cells is therapeutic in that it inhibits the induction of tumor growth, and it also prevents tumor growth in tumor-bearing animals.     

不同佐剂对人乳头瘤病毒16型L2E7E6蛋白免疫效果的影响

目的:研究CpG佐剂、弗氏佐剂、聚肌胞苷酸佐剂及左旋咪唑、西米替丁作为佐剂对人乳头瘤病毒16型L2E7E6融合蛋白在小鼠体内产生的免疫效果的影响。方法:以单独蛋白组、蛋白加各佐剂组分别肌肉注射免疫C57BL/6小鼠,检测不同佐剂诱发小鼠产生的体液免疫和细胞免疫应答水平,并观察其对小鼠肿瘤生长的抑制作用。结果:各免疫组均能检测到高滴度的抗L2、E7、E6蛋白IgG抗体(以IgG1为主),其中弗氏佐剂能显著提高E6蛋白的IgG和IgG1抗体水平和E7蛋白的IgG1抗体水平(P<0.05),CpG佐剂明显提高了E7蛋白的IgG2a抗体水平(P<0.01);而西米替丁佐剂则降低了E7抗原的IgG抗体水平(P<0.05);同时可以检测到CpG佐剂组能诱发小鼠产生针对E7、E6较强的细胞免疫反应,且能抑制70%的荷瘤小鼠肿瘤生长;此外弗氏佐剂与聚肌胞苷酸佐剂可产生较弱的针对E7肽的细胞免疫反应,能延缓荷瘤小鼠肿瘤形成时间,与单纯蛋白组相比差异显著(P<0.05)。结论:CpG佐剂、弗氏佐剂和聚肌胞苷酸佐剂都能提高人乳头瘤病毒16型L2E7E6融合蛋白的细胞免疫反应水平和抑制肿瘤生长能力,其中CpG佐剂效果较好,为促进该蛋白作为疫苗的研发提供了实验依据。     

Induction of immune resistance against L1210 lymphatic leukemia in mice after lethal irradiation and reconstruction with fetal liver cells.

The immunohematopoietic potential of syngeneic fetal liver cells (SFLC) was examined and compared with syngeneic bone marrow cells (SBMC). SFLC generated about 3 times less 12th-day spleen colonies (CFU-S) than adult SBMC did. To test the SFLC ability for reconstitution of the immune system, mice were lethally total body irradiated (TBI) and transplanted i.v. with 3 x 10(7) SFLC or 1 x 10(7) SBMC. Thus, injected hematopoietic cells contained the same number of CFU-S. On days 28, 35, 42, and 49 after transplantation the mice were injected i.p. with 10(6) immunogenic L1210-Maf cells (L1210 leukemia cells treated in vitro with mafosfamide for inhibition of their growth in vivo) to test the ability for generation of immune response against L1210 leukemia. On day 56 the animals were challenged with 10(3) L1210 leukemia cells. Strong resistance against the leukemia was induced in TBI + SFLC and TBI + SBMC mice, suggesting that the SFLC similarly as SBMC are able to reconstitute immune system of the TBI host.     

软骨多糖对L1210白血病小鼠生长抑制作用的研究

目的:研究软骨多糖对L1210白血病小鼠的生长抑制作用,并探讨其抑瘤作用机理。方法:建立DBA/2小鼠L1210腹水瘤模型,将小鼠分为对照组、低剂量组、中剂量组和高剂量组进行实验,通过腹腔注射软骨多糖治疗,每天称重并记录小鼠的生存时间,计算生命延长率。于0h、24h、48h、72h抽取治疗组小鼠的腹水瘤细胞进行细胞周期的分析;采用常规HE染色观察细胞形态学变化;应用免疫荧光方法检测BCL-2和BAD蛋白表达变化,以进一步探讨软骨多糖的抑瘤机制。结果:软骨多糖可以明显提高DBA/2小鼠的生存率;细胞形态学观察可见细胞出现细胞浆浓缩、核固缩及凋亡小体等现象;软骨多糖作用后的L1210细胞,其细胞周期被阻遏于Go/G1期,24h-48h凋亡率迅速上升;Bad蛋白的表达水平于给药24h-72h后升高,抗凋亡基因Bcl-2表达下降。结论:软骨多糖可能通过影响肿瘤细胞周期和Bad、Bcl-2蛋白的表达来诱导L1210细胞凋亡,并显著抑制肿瘤细胞的生长,延长DBA/2小鼠的生存时间,是一种新型的抑癌活性物质。     

A modified tyrosinase-related protein 2 epitope generates high-affinity tumor-specific T cells but does not mediate therapeutic efficacy in an intradermal tumor model

The generation of tumor-specific T cells is hampered by the presentation of poorly immunogenic tumor-specific epitopes by the tumor. Here, we demonstrate that, although CD8+ T cells specific for the self/tumor Ag tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP2) are readily detected in tumor-bearing hosts, vaccination of either tumor-bearing or naive mice with an epitope derived from TRP2 fails to generate significant numbers of tetramer-staining TRP2-specific T cells or antitumor immunity. We identified an altered peptide epitope, called deltaV, which elicits T cell responses that are cross-reactive to the wild-type TRP2 epitope. Immunization with deltaV generates T cells with increased affinity for TRP2 compared with immunization with the wild-type TRP2 epitope, although TRP2 immunization often generates a greater number of TRP2-specific T cells based on intracellular IFN-gamma analysis. Despite generating higher affinity responses, deltaV immunization alone fails to provide any greater therapeutic efficacy against tumor growth than TRP2 immunization. This lack of tumor protection is most likely a result of both the deletion of high affinity and functional tolerance induction of lower affinity TRP2-specific T cells. Our data contribute to a growing literature demonstrating the ability of variant peptide epitopes to generate higher affinity T cell responses against tumor-specific Ags. However, consistent with most clinical data, simple generation of higher affinity T cells is insufficient to mediate tumor immunity.     

Complex memory T-cell phenotypes revealed by coexpression of CD62L and CCR7

Antigen-experienced T cells have been divided into CD62L+ CCR7+ central memory (TCM) and CD62L- CCR7- effector memory (TEM) cells. Here, we examined coexpression of CD62L and CCR7 in lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus-specific memory CD8 T cells from both lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues. Three main points emerged: firstly, memory cells frequently expressed a mixed CD62L- CCR7+ phenotype that differed from the phenotypes of classical TEM and TCM cells; secondly, TCM cells were not restricted to lymphoid organs but were also present in significant numbers in nonlymphoid tissues; and thirdly, a major shift from a TCM to TEM phenotype was found in memory cells that had been stimulated repetitively with antigen.     

Regression of established human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) immortalized tumors in vivo by vaccinia viruses expressing different forms of HPV-16 E7 correlates with enhanced CD8(+) T-cell responses that home to the tumor site

Using vaccinia virus as a live vector, we show that the expression of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) E7 fused to a nonhemolytic portion of the Listeria monocytogenes virulence factor, listeriolysin O (LLO), induces an immune response that causes the regression of established HPV-16 immortalized tumors in C57BL/6 mice. The vaccinia virus construct expressing LLO fused to E7 (VacLLOE7) was compared with two previously described vaccinia virus constructs: one that expresses unmodified E7 (VacE7) and another that expresses E7 in a form designed to direct it to intracellular lysosomal compartments and improve major histocompatibility complex class II-restricted responses (VacSigE7LAMP-1). C57BL/6 mice bearing established HPV-16 immortalized tumors of 5 or 8 mm were treated with each of these vaccines. Fifty percent of the mice treated with VacLLOE7 remained tumor free 2 months after tumor inoculation, whereas 12 to 25% of the mice were tumor free after treatment with VacSigE7LAMP-1 (depending on the size of the tumor). No mice were tumor free in the group given VacE7. Compared to VacE7, VacSigE7LAMP-1 and VacLLOE7 resulted in increased numbers of H2-D(b)-specific tetramer-positive CD8(+) T cells in mouse spleens that produced gamma interferon and tumor necrosis factor alpha upon stimulation with RAHYNIVTF peptide. In addition, the highest frequency of tetramer-positive T cells was seen in the tumor sites of mice treated with VacLLOE7. An increased efficiency of E7-specific lysis by splenocytes from mice immunized with VacLLOE7 was also observed. These results indicate that the fusion of E7 with LLO not only enhances antitumor therapy by improving the tumoricidal function of E7-specific CD8(+) T cells but may also increase the number of antigen-specific CD8(+) T cells in the tumor, the principle site of antigen expression.     

Tumorigenicity of interleukin-2 (IL-2)-cDNA-transfected L1210 lymphoma and its in vivo variants is modulated by changes in IL-2 expression; potential therapeutic implications

Summary To study parameters that affect the tumorigenicity of L1210 lymphoma we have analyzed the structure of MHC class I antigens of this tumor. In addition this tumor was transfected with interleukin-2 (IL-2) cDNA in order to determine the effects of high concentrations of IL-2 within the tumor environment. The nucleotide sequence of the class I K^d, D^d and L^d mRNAs from this tumor showed that the encoded amino acid sequence of the corresponding antigens is normal, thus suggesting that the tumorigenicity of L1210 lymphoma is not due to defective antigen presentation to tumor-specific cytotoxic T cells. In contrast, induction of IL-2 expression by cDNA transfection led to loss of tumorigenicity of the IL-2-secreting tumor cells. However, a fraction of long-term-surviving mice developed progressively growing variant tumors that showed substantial decrease or loss of IL-2 expression. These results suggest that IL-2 secretion by tumors is suicidal but, because of tumor heterogeneity, IL-2-loss-variant tumors may arise that are able to escape the immune defenses of the host. The observed consistent loss of IL-2 expression in variant tumors implies that specific targeting of large quantities of IL-2 to tumor cells may be a valuable approach to immunotherapy of cancer. In addition we find that under specific gamma ray irradiation IL-2-secreting tumor cells lose their ability to multiply yet continue to secrete IL-2 at levels equivalent to those secreted by unirradiated cells. Such IL-2-secreting irradiated tumor cells were found to be superior immunogens in comparison to the irradiated parental tumor cells, suggesting their use as tumor vaccines.     

Tumor-specific idiotype vaccines. I. Generation and characterization of internal image tumor antigen

The concept of idiotype vaccines against tumor-associated antigens (TAA) was tested in the DBA/2 L1210 lymphoma subline, L1210/GZL. Monoclonal antibodies against a TAA that cross-reacts with the envelope glycoprotein gp52 of the mammary tumor virus were used to make hybridoma anti-idiotype antibodies (Ab2). In this report we describe the characterization of monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibodies against the combining site of 11C1 (Ab1), which recognizes a shared determinant of gp52 of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) and the TAA of L1210/GZL. Hybridomas expressing the internal image of gp52 were screened by an idiotype inhibition assay. Mice sensitized with radiated L1210/GZL cells produced specific delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) against the Ab2 hybridoma. Five Ab2 hybridomas were selected and were used to immunize DBA/2 mice. Such immunized animals showed specific DTH reaction against a challenge with the L1210/GZL tumor cells. Similar results were obtained in mice immunized with purified Ab2. Fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis demonstrated that fluorescence staining of L1210/GZL cells by 11C1 can be completely inhibited with preabsorption on Ab2 hybridoma cells. Mice immunized with 2F10 and 3A4 coupled to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) contained antibodies binding to MMTV. But only in mice immunized with 2F10-KLH was significant inhibition of L1210/GZL tumor growth observed. Collectively, these results indicate that certain anti-idiotypic antibodies can mimic the MMTV gp52 antigen, as well as the gp52-like epitope expressed on the L1210/GZL tumor cells. These properties of anti-idiotypic antibodies mimicking TAA could be exploited for making idiotype vaccines against tumors.