An intrinsic role of IL-33 in Treg cell–mediated tumor immunoevasion

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Aikaterini Hatzioannou - , Academy of Athens (Author)
  • Aggelos Banos - , Academy of Athens (Author)
  • Theodore Sakelaropoulos - , New York University (Author)
  • Constantinos Fedonidis - , Academy of Athens (Author)
  • Maria Sophia Vidali - , National Hellenic Research Foundation (Author)
  • Maren Köhne - , German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (Author)
  • Kristian Händler - , German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (Author)
  • Louis Boon - , Bioceros (Author)
  • Ana Henriques - , Alexander Fleming Biomedical Sciences Research Center (Author)
  • Vasiliki Koliaraki - , Alexander Fleming Biomedical Sciences Research Center (Author)
  • Panagiotis Georgiadis - , National Hellenic Research Foundation (Author)
  • Jerome Zoidakis - , Academy of Athens (Author)
  • Aikaterini Termentzi - , Benaki Phytopathological Institute (Author)
  • Marc Beyer - , German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (Author)
  • Triantafyllos Chavakis - , Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) (Author)
  • Dimitrios Boumpas - , Academy of Athens, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Author)
  • Aristotelis Tsirigos - , New York University (Author)
  • Panayotis Verginis - , Academy of Athens, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)

Abstract

Regulatory T (Treg) cells accumulate into tumors, hindering the success of cancer immunotherapy. Yet, therapeutic targeting of Treg cells shows limited efficacy or leads to autoimmunity. The molecular mechanisms that guide Treg cell stability in tumors remain elusive. In the present study, we identify a cell-intrinsic role of the alarmin interleukin (IL)-33 in the functional stability of Treg cells. Specifically, IL-33-deficient Treg cells demonstrated attenuated suppressive properties in vivo and facilitated tumor regression in a suppression of tumorigenicity 2 receptor (ST2) (IL-33 receptor)-independent fashion. On activation, Il33−/− Treg cells exhibited epigenetic re-programming with increased chromatin accessibility of the Ifng locus, leading to elevated interferon (IFN)-γ production in a nuclear factor (NF)-κB–T-bet-dependent manner. IFN-γ was essential for Treg cell defective function because its ablation restored Il33−/− Treg cell-suppressive properties. Importantly, genetic ablation of Il33 potentiated the therapeutic effect of immunotherapy. Our findings reveal a new and therapeutically important intrinsic role of IL-33 in Treg cell stability in cancer.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)75-85
Number of pages11
JournalNature immunology
Volume21
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2020
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 31844326

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Library keywords