First Author | Ostrand-Rosenberg S | Year | 2000 |
Journal | J Immunol | Volume | 165 |
Issue | 11 | Pages | 6015-9 |
PubMed ID | 11086031 | Mgi Jnum | J:65894 |
Mgi Id | MGI:1927426 | Doi | 10.4049/jimmunol.165.11.6015 |
Citation | Ostrand-Rosenberg S, et al. (2000) Cutting edge: STAT6-deficient mice have enhanced tumor immunity to primary and metastatic mammary carcinoma. J Immunol 165(11):6015-9 |
abstractText | STAT4 and STAT6 are essential for the development of CD4(+) Th1 and Th2 development, respectively. Tumor immunologists have hypothesized that Th1 cells are critical in tumor immunity because they facilitate differentiation of CD8(+) T cells, which are potent anti-tumor effectors. We have used STAT4(-/-) and STAT6(-/-) mice to test this hypothesis. BALB/c and knockout mice were challenged in the mammary gland with the highly malignant and spontaneously metastatic BALB/c-derived 4T1 mammary carcinoma. Primary tumor growth and metastatic disease are reduced in STAT6(-/-) mice relative to BALB/c and STAT4(-/-) mice. Ab depletions demonstrate that the effect is mediated by CD8(+) T cells, and immunized STAT6(-/-) mice have higher levels of 4T1-specific CTL than BALB/c or STAT4(-/-) mice. Surprisingly, Th1 or Th2 cells are not involved, because CD4 depletion does not diminish the anti-tumor effect. Therefore, deletion of the STAT6 gene facilitates development of potent anti-tumor immunity via a CD4(+)-independent pathway. |