Regulatory T Cells in Human Ovarian Cancer

Abstract

Multiple layers of suppressive components including regulatory T (T_Reg) cells, suppressive antigen-presenting cells, and inhibitory cytokines form suppressive networks in the ovarian cancer microenvironment. It has been demonstrated that as a major suppressive element, T_Reg cells infiltrate tumor, interact with several types of immune cells, and mediate immune suppression through different molecular and cellular mechanisms. In this paper, we focus on human ovarian cancer and will discuss the nature of T_Reg cells including their subsets, trafficking, expansion, and function. We will briefly review the development of manipulation of T_Reg cells in preclinical and clinical settings.

1. Introduction

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common and deadliest gynecologic cancers. In 2010, 21880 new cases were diagnosed, and such cancer caused nearly 13850 deaths in the United States alone [1]. Ovarian cancer usually has poor prognosis, and most patients were diagnosed at advanced stages. The five-year survival rate for all stages of ovarian cancer is 46% in 2010 [1]. It has been well documented that patients' clinical outcome and five-year survival rate are positively associated with the number of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) [2], and the ratio of intraepithelial CD8⁺ TILs to T_Reg cells [3], or negatively associated with tumor- infiltrating T_Reg cells [4].

T_Reg cells are also known as suppressor T cells which consist of a specific subpopulation of cells that functionally suppress the activation of immune system and maintain immune tolerance to self-antigens. T_Reg cells contain two major subsets known as natural T_Reg cells (nT_Reg) and adaptive or induced T_Reg cells (iT_Reg). nT_Reg cells derived from thymus are considered as classic T_Reg cells, by contrast, iT_Reg cells develop in the periphery in response to self- or tumor antigens by converting naive CD4⁺ T cells into T_Reg cells [5]. Because most tumors express self-antigens, T_Reg cells-mediated immunosuppression is believed to be one of the major contributors to immune evasion by tumors and becomes the main obstacle toward successful tumor immunotherapy [6]. In this paper, we will focus on human ovarian cancer and discuss the nature of T_Reg cells including their subsets, trafficking, differentiation, and proliferation and the clinical application of manipulation of T_Reg cells.

2. Regulatory T-Cell Subsets

In early 1970s, Gershon and Kondo first described the existence of thymus-derived suppressive T cells (later termed as T_Reg cell) in vivo [7, 8]. After more than a decade, Sakaguchi et al. demonstrated that CD4⁺ T cells expressing interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor alpha-chain (CD25) can be defined as the population of T_Reg cells with immune-suppressive activities and maintaining immune tolerance to self-antigen [9]. Later in 2003, Hori et al. found that the transcription factor forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) controls the development of T_Reg cells and is crucial for maintaining the immune-suppressive function of T_Reg cells [10].

Natural T_Reg cells differentiate in the thymus and migrate to periphery, which constitute 5–10% of CD4⁺ T cells [11–13]. In addition, there are several subsets of T_Reg cells other than CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺  T_Reg cells. Groux et al. identified another subset of T_Reg cells, CD4⁺  T_R 1 cells, that suppress antigen-specific immune responses by producing high levels of IL-10 [14]. In addition to CD4⁺  T_Reg, CD8⁺ suppressive T cells have been found playing an important role in the regulation of autoimmune disease [7, 15]. CD8⁺ suppressive T cells now refered to as CD8⁺  T_Reg cells are characterized as CD8⁺CD25⁺, CD8⁺CD122⁺, or CD8⁺CD45RC^low  T_Reg cells, which comprise less than 1% of peripheral CD8⁺ T cells [15]. Th3 T_Reg cells have similar immune-suppressive function; however, in contrast to natural T_Reg cells, Th3 exerts its suppressive capacity independent of cell membrane contact but mainly bases on the action of self-produced cytokine TGFβ [16].

3. Regulatory T-Cell Trafficking

T_Reg cells consist of ~10% of peripheral CD4⁺ T cells characterized as CD4⁺CD25⁺FOXP3⁺ T cells, which is important for the control of autoimmune reaction [9, 11]. Dysregulation of T_Reg can cause autoimmune diseases [17] and may contribute to tumor-initiated immune evasion [18]. As demonstrated by in vivo mouse model, the deletion of T_Reg cells results in tumor rejection [19]. However, the suppressive capacity of T_Reg cells is also determined by the ratio of T_Reg cells to effector T cells [3]. A high CD8⁺/T_Reg ratio is associated with favorable prognosis and improved survival [3, 20]. It has been reported that many human cancers are associated with high frequency of T_Reg cells in the circulation or in the tumor tissues, including ovarian cancer [4], lung cancer [21], breast cancer [22], liver cancer [23], head and neck cancer [24], and lymphoma [25]. These increased levels of T_Reg cells are linked to high death hazard and poor survival, while the depletion of tumor-infiltrated T_Reg cells and the blockade of T_Reg trafficking to tumors enhance anti-tumor immune response [4, 26].

CCR4 and its binding partners CCL22 and CCL17 are believed to be the most predominant axis in chemokine-mediated selective T_Reg trafficking to the tumors. Iellem et al. have profiled chemotactic responses and chemokine receptors expression of human T_Reg cells and found that T_Reg cells specifically express chemokine receptors CCR4 and CCR8 [27]. Chemokine CCL22, the ligand for CCR4, preferentially attracts activated-antigen-specific T cells to dendritic cells [28, 29]. It has also been shown that human ovarian cancer cells and tumor-associated microphages produce chemokine CCL22, which mediates T_Reg cells trafficking to tumor [4]. Blockade of CCL22 in vivo significantly reduces human T_Reg cells trafficking to tumors in ovarian carcinoma [4]. This chemokine-mediated T_Reg trafficking has been also observed in other types of cancer, such as gastric cancer [30], Hodgkin's lymphoma [31], and breast cancer [32]. Interestingly, in gastric cancer, CCL22 and CCL17 seem both important to recruit T_Reg cells to the tumors as demonstrated by in vivo study as well as in vitro migration assay, and the levels of CCL22 and CCL17 within tumors are correlated to the increased levels of T_Reg cells in early gastric cancer [33].

Besides CCR4 chemokine axis, CCR5/CCL5 axis may also selectively recruit T_Reg cells to the tumors. Using human pancreatic adenocarcinoma and murine pancreatic tumor model, it has been found that CCR5 is highly expressed in T_Reg cells, while tumor cells produce elevated amount of CCL5, and disruption of CCR5/CCL5 chemokine axis blocks T_Reg cells migration and reduces tumor growth [34]. In addition, CCL20 chemokine shows high affinity to CCR6 and can also mediate selective CCR6⁺ T_Reg cells trafficking [35].

4. Regulatory T-Cell Differentiation and Proliferation

CD4⁺CD25⁺  T_Reg cells are generated in the thymus. Papiernik et al. found that peripheral T_Reg migrates from the thymus and appears in the periphery as early as 10th day of life [36]. They also found that CD4⁺CD25⁺  T_Reg cells differentiation is totally dependent on IL-2, because IL-2 knockout mice do not develop CD4⁺CD25⁺  T_Reg   in vivo [36]. Further evidences have been provided from the studies on irradiated rat model [37]. In this study, autoimmune diseases were induced in rats by thymectomy and irradiation; however the xenograft transfer of CD4⁺ T cells from normal rats can abrogate the autoimmune responses. These observations suggest that normal thymus-derived T cells have immune suppressive functions and thus prevent autoimmunity [37]. In another model system, adoptive transfer of thymocytes or peripheral T cells depleted of CD4⁺CD25⁺  T_Reg cells causes autoimmune diseases in mice, which provides further evidences of thymic origin of T_Reg cells and their peripheral existence [38].

However, there is little known about the comprehensive requirements for thymic T_Reg development. Although there are several arguments about how and what stromal components are involved in thymic T_Reg cell differentiation, thymic stromal cells, including cortical and medullary thymic epithelial cells and dendritic cells (DCs), contribute to T_Reg cells differentiation and selection [38]. Jordan et al. used TCR-transgenic mice which express the receptor recognizing specific self-antigen and found that thymocytes bearing a TCR with high affinity to a specific self-antigen undergo selection and become CD4⁺CD25⁺  T_Reg cells when interacting with a single self-antigen, but thymocytes bearing TCR with low affinity do not undergo selection [39].

In addition to thymus, T_Reg can also be generated in the periphery. For instance, tumor microenvironment favors the induction and differentiation of T_Reg cells, and that has been extensively studied for several years [40]. In the tumor microenvironment, DC differentiation and function were suppressed by tumor-associated factors IL-10, VEGF, and TGFβ, resulting in immature/dysfunctional DC [6]. Dysfunctional DC directly contributed to the induction of IL-10-producing T_Reg cells in vivo in human and in vitro [41, 42]. Tumor-associated plasmacytoid DC also induced IL-10⁺  T_Reg generation [43, 44]. Tumor can convert DC into TGFβ-producing immature DC, which selectively promotes T_Reg proliferation in TGFβ-dependent manner [45].

CD4⁺CD25⁺  T_Reg cells can also be converted from peripheral naïve CD4⁺CD25⁻ T cells by the action of TGFβ. Tumor microenvironment contains high levels of TGFβ which might mediate tumor-associated T_Reg cells conversion [46].

5. Targeting Regulatory T Cells

5.1. T_Reg Cell Depletion

In the mouse model, depletion of CD4⁺CD25⁺  T_Reg cells using anti-CD25 antibody causes tumor regression, which correlated to the reduced number of T_Reg cells [18, 47]. Using the recombinant IL-2 diphtheria toxin conjugate DAB(389)IL-2 (also known as denileukin diftitox and ONTAK), Dannull et al. demonstrated that DAB(389)IL-2 was capable of selectively eliminating CD25⁺  T_Reg cells from the PBMCs of cancer patients without inducing toxicity on other cellular subsets, and DAB(389)IL-2-mediated T_Reg depletion enhanced anti-tumor immune responses and significantly reduced the number of T_Reg cells present in the blood of cancer patients [48]. Daclizumab (also known as Zenapex) and Basiliximab (also called Simulect) are monoclonal antibodies against CD25 [49, 50], and the administration of Daclizumab in patient with metastatic breast cancer enhanced anti-tumor immunity [51].

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA4) is constitutively expressed and restricted to CD4⁺CD25⁺  T_Reg cells among all CD4⁺ cells, and the immune-suppressive function of T_Reg is mediated by CTLA4 signaling [52, 53]. CTLA4 binds to inhibitory B7 members on APC and transmits an inhibitory signal to T cells. In vivo administration of anti-CTLA4 antibody resulted in tumor rejection including preestablished tumors [54]. Periodic infusions of anti-CTLA4 antibody in previously vaccinated patients with cancer created clinically effective antitumor immune response [55]. Patients with metastatic melanoma showed improved antitumor immunity and tumor regression by blockade of CTLA-4 together with peptide vaccination [56].

Glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family-related protein (GITR or DTA-1) is predominantly expressed on the surface of T_Reg cells. An agonistic anti-GITR antibody administration in mice can abrogate T_Reg-mediated immune suppression and enhance effective anti-tumor immunity in vivo [57, 58]. In addition, treatment with anti-GITR antibody in B16 mice elicited immune response and rejected tumor [59]. However GITR is not exclusively expressed on T_Reg cell; it is also expressed by various CD4⁺ T cells and others. Therefore, the clinical therapeutic relevance of GITR blockade and its side effects on potential deficits of other effective immune cells remain to be determined.

OX40 (CD134) also belongs to TNF receptor family and expressed on activated T cells. Both naïve and activated T_Reg express OX40. Similar to GITR, triggering OX40 by an agonistic antibody against OX40 reduces T_Reg-mediated immune suppression and restores effector T-cell function both in vivo and in vitro [60]. It has been also shown that OX40 is necessary for T_Reg development, homeostasis, and immune-suppressive activity. However, stimulation of OX40 signal in naïve T cells can abrogate T_Reg-mediated suppression [61].

Clinical relevance of the depletion of T_Reg cells has been further confirmed by the treatment of cyclophosphamide (CY) in the patients bearing tumor. Cyclophosphamide is a nitrogen mustard alkylating agent that mediates DNA crosslinking. Low dose of CY administration improved patients' immune responses by reducing the number of T_Regcells and by decreasing the suppressive activity of T_Reg cells [62]. Effects of T_Reg depletion on anti-tumor immune responses were further investigated by the study on B16 melanomas mouse model [63]. Other immunosuppressants like cyclosporine A (CSA) and azathioprine might also inhibit T_Reg cells generation [64, 65]. For instance, high dose of CSA abrogates T_Reg cell generation; by contrast, low dose of CSA can promote T_Reg cell development [64]. It is therefore important to determine whether lowdose of those agents can improve antitumor immunity in patients.

5.2. Targeting T_Reg Trafficking

Our group has demonstrated that human ovarian cancer cells and tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) produced chemokine CCL22, the ligand for CCR4 which functionally expressed on tumor T_Reg cells, mediating T_Reg cells trafficking to the tumor and ascites, and the blockade of CCL22 abrogated T_Reg cells migration [4]. It has been demonstrated that chemokine receptor CCR4 is selectively expressed by T_Reg cells, and the CCR4 and CCR4-associate chemokines axis is one of the most described tumor T_Reg recruitment axes [66]. The administration of anti-CCR4 antibody effectively depletes CCR4⁺ T cells and inhibits T_Reg cells migration in Hodgkin lymphoma [31]. Furthermore, the significant correlation between CCL17 or CCL22 chemokines and the number of tumor-infiltrating T_Reg cells was found in patients with neoplastic meningitis and gastric cancer [30, 33]. CCL5 and CCL20 chemokines are also involved in T_Reg trafficking, and that blockade of those chemokines reduces T_Reg cells trafficking and inhibits tumor growth [34, 35]. We have shown that CXCL12/CXCR4 axis mediated T_Reg trafficking to bone marrow [67]. Recently, a study has demonstrated that blockade of CXCR4 by a selective antagonist resulted in the significant reduction of intratumoral T_Reg cells, which was associated with greatly increased antitumor immunity and an improved survival in an immunocompetent mouse model of ovarian cancer [68].

5.3. Targeting TGFβ Signaling Pathway

TGFβ is implicated in T_Reg differentiation, conversion, and function. It is thought that blockade of TGFβ signaling pathway may alter T_Reg phenotype and function and in turn enhances antitumor immunity [6]. In addition to T_Reg cells, ovarian carcinoma cells can also produce TGFβ [69]. Notably, TGFβ is not only important for T_Reg cell functional integrity, but also inhibits the proliferation and functional differentiation of T lymphocytes, NK cells, and macrophages [46, 70]. This may induce T-cell unresponsiveness to TCR stimulation, failure to produce Th1 cytokines, and production of additional TGFβ [46]. TGFβ signaling may also be crucial for tumor cell transformation. Therefore, targeting TGFβ signaling may be therapeutically meaningful. TGFβ inhibitor AP 12009 was tested in a Phase I/II clinical trial for advanced pancreatic cancer and other malignancies [71]. LY2109761, an inhibitor of TGFβ I/II receptors, can suppress pancreatic cancer metastases [72]. In a preclinical model, we have shown that anti-TGFβ can reduce T_Reg cells in tumors and tumor-draining lymph nodes. This effect is enhanced by B7-H1 blockade [73]. Nonetheless, it is clear that blocking TGFβ signaling may affect T_Reg compartment. However, as TGFβ is implicated in multiple layers of biological activities, the ultimate clinical therapeutic efficiency and side effects of TGFβ signaling blockade remain to be investigated.

5.4. Targeting Inhibitory B7 Family Members

The expression, regulation, functional, and clinical relevance of inhibitory B7 family members have been reviewed elsewhere [74]. Human ovarian cancer and cancer-associated myeloid antigen-presenting cells express high levels of B7-H1 (PD-L1), which are negatively associated with patient survival [74, 75]. Patients with high expression of B7-H1 had a significantly poor prognosis compared to the patients with low expression of B7H1 [76]. B7-H1 expression was also found inversely correlated to the intraepithelial CD8⁺ T lymphocyte count, indicating that B7-H1 on tumor cells may suppress antitumor CD8⁺ T cells [76]. The receptor, programmed death 1 (PD-1), is expressed on activated T-cell subsets, antigen-specific CD8⁺ T cells [77], and T_Reg [78]. Interestingly, B7-H1/PD-1 has been reported to be involved in the development of induced T_Reg cells [79]. Therefore, targeting B7-H1/PD-1 signaling pathway may reduce T_Reg development and function. As anti-PD-1 is in clinical application to treat patients with melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, and other cancers, further mechanistic studies on these patients will determine if the effects of anti-PD-1 on T_Reg cells are mechanistically and clinically relevant.

In addition to B7-H1, human ovarian cancer and cancer-associated myeloid antigen-presenting cells also express high levels of B7-H4 (B7x, B7s1), which are negatively associated with patient survival [74, 80, 81]. Interestingly, T_Reg cells can induce IL-10 expression by APCs and indirectly stimulate B7-H4 expression on APCs and convey suppressive activity to APCs [74, 80, 81]. Thus, it is tempting to speculate that blocking B7-H4 signaling pathway may disable the suppressive effects of T_Reg cells on APCs. Notably, as the receptor for B7-H4 has not been identified, B7-H4 signaling is much less understood in both mouse and human system. Nonetheless, studies on ovarian cancer patients and preclinical cancer models suggest that interruption of B7-H4 signaling may lead to improved antitumor T-cell response and decreased T_Reg suppressive function.

6. Conclusions

T_Reg cells infiltrate tumor including ovarian cancer. Their phenotype, trafficking mechanism, suppressive activity, and clinical relevance have been defined in human cancer. However, recent evidence indicates that T_Reg cells may not be stable and are subject to environmental regulation. In this regard, it remains poorly understood how T_Reg cells evolve in human tumor microenvironment. Although their action mode of mechanisms has been investigated in many different physiological and pathological scenarios, the key suppressive mechanisms may be differed in different tumors or/and in different stages. Therefore, further patient-oriented studies are essential for dissecting T_Reg cell biology. Nonetheless, targeting T_Reg cells or/and reprogramming T_Reg cells is an important strategy to treat patients with cancer. It is suggested that combinatorial therapy by incorporating T_Reg manipulation may be ideal direction to develop novel therapeutic regimen to efficiently treat patients with cancer.