Targeting ST2 expressing activated regulatory T cells in Kras-mutant lung cancer

Oncogenic KRAS-mutant lung cancers remain treatment refractory. A better understanding of the immune response of KRAS-mutant lung cancers is required to facilitate the development of potential therapeutic strategies. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a subset of immune cells that promote tumor progression through suppressing anti-tumor immune response. Here, we used Kras^G12D lung cancer mice to examine the characteristics of tumor-infiltrating Tregs. In tumor-bearing animals, Tregs are increased during tumor progression. Of note, a majority of Tregs that localized in lung tumors of Kras-mutant mice expressed ST2, a receptor for IL-33, which are different from Tregs in secondary lymphoid organs. To investigate the function of local Tregs influencing immune response in primary lung tumor development, we used anti-ST2 antibody to deplete Tregs in lung tumors of Kras-mutant mice. Treatment of Kras-mutant mice with anti-ST2 antibody resulted in depletion of activated Tregs in lung tumor while leaving Tregs in secondary lymphoid organs intact. Also, localized Tregs depletion led to a significant reduction in lung tumor burden. Immune response after Tregs depletion in tumors showed restoration of NK cell activity and enhanced Th1 activity, with increased CD8 cytotoxic T cell response. In addition, we found that the M2 macrophage signature in lung tumors was suppressed upon Tregs depletion, accompanied by upregulation of surface expression of MHC-II molecules and reduced expression of Arg1, Mmp12, Cxcl2, and Chi3l3. These data suggest that therapeutic strategies targeting activated Tregs in lung cancer have the potential to restrain tumor progression by enhancing anti-tumor immunity.