PD-L1-specific helper T-cells exhibit effective antitumor responses: new strategy of cancer immunotherapy targeting PD-L1 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Journal of Translational Medicine

卷:17

Esteban Celis¹  Yasuaki Harabuchi²  Takumi Kumai²  Hidehiro Takei³  Yuji Uno³  Takayuki Ohkuri⁴  Mizuho Ohara⁴  Shohei Harabuchi⁴  Kensuke Oikawa⁴  Yui Hirata-Nozaki⁴  Akemi Kosaka⁴  Marino Nagata⁴  Toshihiro Nagato⁴  Kenzo Ohara⁴  Hiroya Kobayashi⁴  Naoko Aoki⁴  Kei Ishibashi⁵ 

[1] Cancer Immunology, Inflammation and Tolerance Program, Augusta University Georgia Cancer Center;

[2] Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University;

[3] Department of Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University Hospital;

[4] Department of Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University;

[5] Respiratory and Breast Center, Asahikawa Medical University Hospital;

关键词: PD-L1;    Helper T-cells;    Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma;    Cancer immunotherapy;    Tumor-associated antigen;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12967-019-1957-5

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) originates from squamous epithelium of the upper aerodigestive tract and is the most common malignancy in the head and neck region. Among HNSCCs, oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has a unique profile and is associated with human papillomavirus infection. Recently, anti-programmed cell death-1 monoclonal antibody has yielded good clinical responses in recurrent and/or metastatic HNSCC patients. Therefore, programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) may be a favorable target molecule for cancer immunotherapy. Although PD-L1-expressing malignant cells could be targeted by PD-L1-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, it remains unclear whether CD4+ helper T lymphocytes (HTLs) recognize and kill tumor cells in a PD-L1-specific manner. Methods The expression levels of PD-L1 and HLA-DR were evaluated using immunohistochemical analyses. MHC class II-binding peptides for PD-L1 were designed based on computer algorithm analyses and added into in vitro culture of HTLs with antigen-presenting cells to evaluate their stimulatory activity. Results We found that seven of 24 cases of OSCC showed positive for both PD-L1 and HLA-DR and that PD-L1241-265 peptide efficiently activates HTLs, which showed not only cytokine production but also cytotoxicity against tumor cells in a PD-L1-dependent manner. Also, an adoptive transfer of the PD-L1-specific HTLs significantly inhibited growth of PD-L1-expressing human tumor cell lines in an immunodeficient mouse model. Importantly, T cell responses specific for the PD-L1241-265 peptide were detected in the HNSCC patients. Conclusions The cancer immunotherapy targeting PD-L1 as a helper T-cell antigen would be a rational strategy for HNSCC patients.

【 授权许可】

Unknown