Department of Pathology.
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, and.
J Clin Invest. 2020 Jul 1;130(7):3528-3542. doi: 10.1172/JCI131992.
Plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs), the major producers of type I interferon, are principally recognized as key mediators of antiviral immunity. However, their role in tumor immunity is less clear. Depending on the context, pDCs can promote or suppress antitumor immune responses. In this study, we identified a naturally occurring pDC subset expressing high levels of OX40 (OX40+ pDC) enriched in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. OX40+ pDCs were distinguished by a distinct immunostimulatory phenotype, cytolytic function, and ability to synergize with conventional DCs (cDCs) in generating potent tumor antigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses. Transcriptomically, we found that they selectively utilized EIF2 signaling and oxidative phosphorylation pathways. Moreover, depletion of pDCs in the murine OX40+ pDC-rich tumor model accelerated tumor growth. Collectively, we present evidence of a pDC subset in the TME that favors antitumor immunity.
浆细胞样树突状细胞(pDCs)是 I 型干扰素的主要产生者,主要被认为是抗病毒免疫的关键介质。然而,它们在肿瘤免疫中的作用尚不清楚。根据具体情况,pDCs 可以促进或抑制抗肿瘤免疫反应。在这项研究中,我们鉴定了一种天然存在的 pDC 亚群,其表达高水平的 OX40(OX40+ pDC),在头颈部鳞状细胞癌的肿瘤微环境(TME)中富集。OX40+ pDCs 具有独特的免疫刺激表型、细胞溶解功能,并能够与常规树突状细胞(cDCs)协同产生有效的肿瘤抗原特异性 CD8+ T 细胞反应。转录组学分析表明,它们选择性地利用 EIF2 信号和氧化磷酸化途径。此外,在富含 OX40+pDC 的小鼠肿瘤模型中耗尽 pDCs 会加速肿瘤生长。总之,我们提供了 TME 中有利于抗肿瘤免疫的 pDC 亚群的证据。