B7-2 expression above a threshold elicits anti-tumor immunity as effective as interleukin-12 and prolongs survival in murine B-cell lymphoma.

Abstract

The costimulatory molecule, B7-2, is expressed by various lymphomas, but this level of expression is not sufficient to generate effective anti-tumor immunity in vivo. To determine whether up-regulated expression of the costimulatory molecule, B7-2, leads to more effective anti-tumor immunity in vivo, the A20 murine model of B-cell lymphoma was used. A20 tumor cells express major histocompatibility complex (MHC) I and II molecules and moderate constitutive levels of B7-2. While B7-1 and B7-2 have been introduced into tumor cells lacking these molecules, studies have not been conducted to determine whether tumors that constitutively express B7-1 or B7-2 can be made more immunogenic by increasing the expression of these molecules. In this report, A20/B7-2 transfectants expressing greater levels of B7-2 were rejected in syngeneic mice, and systemic immunity against the A20 parental cells was generated. Treatment with the A20/B7-2 variant cells significantly improved the survival of tumor-bearing mice. Coinjection with IL-12 secreting variants did not further augment the anti-tumor immunity observed for B7-2 therapy alone. Both CD8(+) T cells and natural killer (NK) cells mediated the anti-tumor immune response observed in A20/B7-2 immunized mice. In mice that developed tumors after immunization with the A20/B7-2 variant cells, resected tumor cells were shown to express lower levels of B7-2 than the transfected variants. These results suggest that the level of costimulation is important for the generation of anti-tumor immunity and for host survival. In addition, tumors appear to be able to evade the immune response by downregulating the expression of B7-2 below a threshold level.

• Authors: Eva Pizzoferrato
• Journal: International journal of cancer (Int J Cancer) Vol. 110 Issue 1 Pg. 61-9 (May 20 2004) ISSN: 0020-7136 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15054869 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Chemical References

• Antigens, CD
• B7-2 Antigen
• Cd86 protein, mouse
• Membrane Glycoproteins
• Interleukin-12

Topics

• Animals
• Antigens, CD (physiology)
• B7-2 Antigen
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
• Female
• Interleukin-12 (physiology)
• Killer Cells, Natural (immunology)
• Lymphoma, B-Cell (immunology, mortality)
• Membrane Glycoproteins (physiology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Survival Rate