Optimal population of FoxP3+ T cells in tumors requires an antigen priming-dependent trafficking receptor switch

PLoS One. 2012;7(1):e30793. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030793. Epub 2012 Jan 23.

Abstract

FoxP3(+) T cells populate tumors and regulate anti-tumor immunity. The requirement for optimal population of FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells in tumors remains unclear. We investigated the migration requirement and stability of tumor-associated FoxP3(+) T cells. We found that only memory, but not naïve, FoxP3(+) T cells are highly enriched in tumors. Almost all of the tumor-infiltrating FoxP3(+) T cells express Helios, an antigen associated either with thymus-generated FoxP3(+) T cells or activated T cells in the periphery. The tumor-infiltrating FoxP3(+) T cells largely lack CD62L and CCR7, two trafficking receptors required for T cell migration into secondary lymphoid tissues. Instead, the tumor infiltrating FoxP3(+) T cells highly express memory/tumor-associated CCR8 and CXCR4. Antigen priming is required for induction of this trafficking receptor phenotype in FoxP3(+) T cells and only antigen primed, but not antigen-inexperienced naive, FoxP3(+) T cells can efficiently migrate into tumors. While the migration of FoxP3(+) T cells into tumors was a readily detectable event, generation of induced FoxP3(+) T cells within tumors was unexpectedly inefficient. Genetic marking of current and ex-FoxP3(+) T cells revealed that tumor-infiltrating FoxP3(+) T cells are highly stable and do not readily convert back to FoxP3(-) T cells. Taken together, our results indicate that population of tumors with thymus-generated FoxP3(+) T cells requires an antigen priming-dependent trafficking receptor switch in lymphoid tissues.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation / physiology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Female
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Immunogenetic Phenomena / immunology
  • Immunogenetic Phenomena / physiology
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Models, Biological
  • Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Receptors, Chemokine / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Chemokine / physiology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / pathology*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxp3 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, Chemokine
  • Transcription Factors
  • Zfpn1a2 protein, mouse