| First Author | Kitajima M | Year | 2011 |
| Journal | Cancer Res | Volume | 71 |
| Issue | 14 | Pages | 4790-8 |
| PubMed ID | 21646476 | Mgi Jnum | J:174068 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5051854 | Doi | 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-10-1572 |
| Citation | Kitajima M, et al. (2011) Memory type 2 helper T cells induce long-lasting antitumor immunity by activating natural killer cells. Cancer Res 71(14):4790-8 |
| abstractText | Functionally polarized helper T cells (Th cells) play crucial roles in the induction of tumor immunity. There is considerable knowledge about the contributions of IFN-producing Th1 cells that supports the role of cytotoxic cluster of differentiation (CD8) T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, but much less is known about how IL-4-producing Th2 cells contribute to tumor immunity. In this study, we investigated the cellular and molecular mechanisms employed by memory Th2 cells in sustaining tumor immunity by using a mouse model system wherein ovalbumin (OVA) is used as a specific tumor antigen. In this model, we found that OVA-specific memory Th2 cells exerted potent and long-lasting antitumor effects against NK-sensitive OVA-expressing tumor cells, wherein antitumor effects were mediated by NK cells. Specifically, NK cell cytotoxic activity and expression of perforin and granzyme B were dramatically enhanced by the activation of memory Th2 cells. Interleukin 4 (IL-4) produced by memory Th2 cells in vivo was critical for the antitumor effects of the NK cells, which IL-4 directly stimulated to induce their perforin- and granzyme-B-dependent cytotoxic activity. Our findings show that memory Th2 cells can induce potent antitumor immunity through IL-4-induced activation of NK cells, suggesting potential applications in cellular therapy for cancer patients. Cancer Res; 71(14); 4790-8. (c)2011 AACR. |
