Dissociation of Its Opposing Immunologic Effects Is Critical for the Optimization of Antitumor CD8+ T-Cell Responses Induced by Interleukin 21

• Published in: Clinical cancer research Vol. 14; no. 19; pp. 6125 - 6136
• Main Authors: Ansén, Sascha, Butler, Marcus O, Berezovskaya, Alla, Murray, Andrew P, Stevenson, Kristen, Nadler, Lee M, Hirano, Naoto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Association for Cancer Research 01.10.2008
• Subjects: Adoptive cell therapy; Antigen-Presenting Cells - metabolism; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - cytology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Cell Proliferation; CTL; Cytokines - metabolism; Dendritic Cells - cytology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I - chemistry; Humans; immunotherapy; Immunotherapy, Adoptive - methods; Interleukins - metabolism; Phenotype; Receptors, Interleukin-21 - genetics; Receptors, Interleukin-21 - metabolism; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1078-0432; 1557-3265
• DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-08-1146

Purpose: Interleukin 21 (IL-21) is a promising new cytokine, which is undergoing clinical testing as an anticancer agent. Although IL-21 provides potent stimulation of CD8 + T cells, it has also been suggested that IL-21 is immunosuppressive by counteracting the maturation of dendritic cells. The dissociation of these two opposing effects may enhance the utility of IL-21 as an immunotherapeutic. In this study, we used a cell-based artificial antigen-presenting cell (aAPC) lacking a functional IL-21 receptor (IL-21R) to investigate the immunostimulatory properties of IL-21. Experimental Design: The immunosuppressive activity of IL-21 was studied using human IL-21R + dendritic cells. Antigen-specific CD8 + T cells stimulated with human cell–based IL-21R - aAPC were used to isolate the T-cell immunostimulatory effects of IL-21. The functional outcomes, including phenotype, cytokine production, proliferation, and cytotoxicity were evaluated. Results: IL-21 limits the immune response by maintaining immunologically immature dendritic cells. However, stimulation of CD8 + T cells with IL-21R - aAPC, which secrete IL-21, results in significant expansion. Although priming in the presence of IL-21 temporarily modulated the T-cell phenotype, chronic stimulation abrogated these differences. Importantly, exposure to IL-21 during restimulation promoted the enrichment and expansion of antigen-specific CD8 + T cells that maintained IL-2 secretion and gained enhanced IFN-γ secretion. Tumor antigen-specific CTL generated in the presence of IL-21 recognized tumor cells efficiently, demonstrating potent effector functions. Conclusions: IL-21 induces opposing effects on antigen-presenting cells and CD8 + T cells. Strategic application of IL-21 is required to induce optimal clinical effects and may enable the generation of large numbers of highly avid tumor-specific CTL for adoptive immunotherapy.