The initial activation of tumor antigen-specific T cells is regulated by host dendritic cells (DC). Recently, it has been observed that danger signals produced by dying cancer cells activate local host DC, which are then able to prime adaptive anti-tumor T cell responses. These observations have clarified our understanding of how tumor antigen-specific T cells are activated against cancers which grow as a solid mass. However, the processes which govern the activation versus suppression of tumor antigen-specific T cells in hosts with hematological cancers, which grow in a disseminated pattern and lack a classical draining lymph node, remain elusive. The long-term goal of our laboratory is to unravel these mechanisms at a basic level, which we believe will be important to guide the development of effective immunotherapy for leukemia in the future. Our work in a murine acute myeloid leukemia (AML) model has revealed that when leukemia cells are introduced into mice intravenously (IV), antigen-specific T cell dysfunction rapidly ensues, whereas a subcutaneous (SC) AML cell inoculation leads to successful T cell priming, arguing that a fundamental difference exists between the ability of hematological versus solid cancers to activate the host immune system. Thus, we hypothesize that a state of antigen-specific T cell dysfunction, consistent with T cell anergy or deletion, occurs in hosts with AML, which is induced by tolerogenic DC, and propose the following Specific Aims: (1) To identify the mechanism of antigen-specific T cell dysfunction induced in a murine AML model; (2) To identify the cellular mediators of T cell dysfunction in mice with AML; and (3) to identify strategies targeting activation of host DC to prevent or reverse T cell dysfunction in mice with AML. To address these aims, we have generated a pre-clinical AML model. The C1498 murine AML cell line has been engineered to express a model antigen which is recognized by a T cell receptor transgenic CD8+ T cell (2C). The proliferation and function of 2C T cells in mice following IV versus SC C1498 cell inoculation will be carefully analyzed to identify the mechanism of T cell dysfunction. To identify the cell(s) which may regulate T cell dysfunction, fluorescently-labeled C1498 cells will be inoculated IV into mice, and immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy will be utilized to identify which DC subset(s) engulf dying C1498 cells in secondary lymphoid organs. Specific DC populations will then be targeted for depletion to determine which is ultimately responsible for inducing T cell dysfunction in mice with AML. Lastly, clinically-relevant strategie targeting host DC activation will be explored to determine which can reverse T cell dysfunction in mice with AML. These studies will contribute to our understanding of how hematological cancers promote immune evasion. Additionally, approaches targeting the reversal of immune tolerance will be tested, possibly leading to strategies useful for clinical translation. Thus, the knowledge to be gained is important from a biological standpoint, and also is expected to lead to immunotherapeutic approaches for patients with AML in the future.

R01CA166770

2012-05-01

2017-03-31