Absence of host NF-κB p50 induces murine glioblastoma tumor regression, increases survival, and decreases T-cell induction of tumor-associated macrophage M2 polarization

Theresa Barberi, Allison Martin, Rahul Suresh, David J. Barakat, Sarah Harris-Bookman, Charles G. Drake, Michael Lim, Alan D. Friedman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

High-grade gliomas harbor abundant myeloid cells that suppress anti-tumor immunity and support tumor growth. Targeting transcription factors, such as NF-κB p50, that mediate suppressive myeloid M2 polarization may prove therapeutic. GL261-Luc glioblastoma cells were inoculated into wild-type and p50−/− mice, followed by analysis of tumor growth, survival, tumor myeloid cells, and T cells. The absence of host p50 slows tumor growth and enables regression in 30% of recipients, leading to prolonged survival. Tumors developing in p50−/− mice possess a greater concentration of tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells (TIMs) than those in wild-type mice. TIMs are predominantly F4/80hi macrophages which, along with tumor-associated microglia, express increased pro-inflammatory M1 and reduced immune-suppressive M2 markers. In p50−/− mice, total tumor CD4 T cells are threefold more abundant, whereas CD8 T-cell numbers are unchanged, and both produce increased IFNγ and Granzyme B. Naïve splenic p50−/− CD8 T cells manifest increased activation, whereas naïve p50−/− and WT CD4 T cells show similar Th1, Th2, and Th17 polarization. Antibody targeting CD4, but not CD8, fully obviates the p50−/− survival advantage. Combined CD4 and CD8 T-cell depletion reverses myeloid M2 polarization in wild-type hosts, without affecting myeloid M1 polarization in p50−/− hosts. Finally, gliomas grow similarly in p50(f/f) and p50(f/f);Lysozyme-Cre mice, the latter having reduced p50 specifically in myeloid cells and tumor microglia. Thus, high-grade glioma T cells play a key role in directing M2 polarization of tumor myeloid cells, and reducing NF-κB p50 in both tumor myeloid cells and T cells may contribute to glioma therapy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1491-1503
Number of pages13
JournalCancer Immunology, Immunotherapy
Volume67
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2018

Keywords

  • Glioblastoma
  • Immunotherapy
  • Macrophages
  • NF-κB p50
  • T cells

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology
  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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