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Tumor antigens are constitutively presented in the draining lymph nodes
1University Department of Medicine, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Center, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.
Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
|May 7, 1999
Summary
Tumor antigens are presented in draining lymph nodes, activating T cells despite a lack of anti-tumor response. This immune ignorance persists throughout tumor growth, even when tumors are undetectable.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Tumor growth often lacks a strong cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response, suggesting immune ignorance of tumor antigens.
- Antigen availability or sequestration may prevent effector cell recognition of tumors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vivo activation of tumor antigen-specific CD8+ T cells in the presence of tumors.
- To determine if tumor antigens are presented in draining lymph nodes and influence T cell proliferation.
Main Methods:
- Adoptive transfer of naive TCR transgenic hemagglutinin (HA)-specific CD8+ T cells into mice bearing HA-expressing tumors.
- Utilizing 5,6-carboxy-succinimidyl-fluorescein-ester (CFSE) labeling to track proliferating T cells in vivo.
Main Results:
- Tumor antigens are constitutively presented in lymph nodes draining tumors.
- This presentation powerfully mitogenic for T cells, inducing proliferation despite absent anti-tumor CTL responses.
- T cell proliferation is observed throughout tumor progression and even 6 months post-inoculation, when tumors are not palpable.
Conclusions:
- Constitutive presentation of tumor antigens occurs in draining lymph nodes.
- This presentation drives T cell proliferation independently of a detectable anti-tumor CTL response.
- Immune ignorance of tumors may stem from factors other than antigen presentation in draining lymph nodes.