Regulatory B lymphocyte functions should be considered in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

ABSTRACT

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by an abnormal expansion of mature B cells in the bone marrow and their accumulation in blood and secondary lymphoid organs. Tumor CLL cells share expression of various surface molecules with many subsets of B cells and have several common characteristics with regulatory B cells (B regs). However, the identification of B regs and their role in CLL remain elusive. The aim of this review is to summarize recent works regarding the regulatory and phenotypic characteristic of B regs and their associated effects on the immune system. It is also meant to highlight their potential importance with regards to the immunotherapeutic response.

Introduction

CLL is a clinically heterogeneous disease, characterized by CD5 positive monoclonal B cell proliferation in the bone marrow and accumulation in blood and secondary lymphoid organs.¹ The origin of tumor cells in CLL is unknown and, based on their phenotypic characteristics several hypotheses have been formulated in the last few years. These cells can be linked to the B1 lineage found in a mouse model expressing the Ly1/CD5 antigen,² but they are also phenotypically close to naive B cells, mature B cells, and memory B cells.^3-6 Another way to classify CLL cells is related to their functional properties since several functional and phenotypic characteristics resemble the recently described B10 cell subset.⁷ B10 cells produce interleukin (IL)-10 inducing, on the one hand, inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines by T cells, and, on the other hand, the development of regulatory T cells (T regs). Moreover, CLL cells are effective in modulating both the innate and adaptive immune system responses which, in part, could explain the immunodeficiency reported in CLL-prone mouse models and CLL patients, with an impact on the clinical course of the disease.⁸

Last but not least, CLL remains an incurable malignant disease despite the recent development and use of therapeutic antibodies and chemotherapy mainly targeting B cells.⁹ Since immunosuppression is observed in CLL, new strategies of treatment must be developed by taking into account the regulatory functions of CLL cells on cellular immunity. This review is aimed to summarize the functional and phenotypic characteristics of CLL cells to better understand their implication in the immunosuppressive responses, the disease progression, and thereby to point out the development of pertinent immunotherapeutic treatments.

Common activities of B regs and B-cell CLL: Regulation of immune cells

Regulatory functions of B regs

Generally speaking, B regs can be defined based on their immunosuppressive capacities on different effector cell types including T helper cells such as Th1, Th2 and Th17 cells,¹⁰ and natural killer (NK) cells. Dendritic cells (DC) and macrophages can be negatively regulated, since B regs affect their phagocytic capacity both in vivo and in vitro.^11,12 In addition to the direct immunosuppressive function, the regulatory effect could be an indirect effect promoting T regs, along which conventional T regs and type 1 regulatory T (Tr1) cells.^13,14 In mice, NKT cells can also be activated by B regs. These B regs are characterized as marginal zone B cells and type 2 transitional B cells expressing the non-classical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen CD1d and CD21 at high levels.¹⁵ This B reg-dependent NKT activation can eliminate autoimmune or inflammatory responses.^16,17

New B regs have been identified in the case of solid tumors: they are named tumoral B regs (tB regs). These cells that strongly express CD19, CD25 and CD69 molecules, like their conventional counterpart, can inhibit Th cell proliferation and are able to activate T reg expansion by transforming naive CD4⁺ T cells.^18,19 Infiltrating tumor CD19⁺ CD38⁺ CD1d⁺ IgM⁺ CD147⁺ B cells can be considered as B regs due to their capacity to regulate T cell response via the production of granzyme B (GrB) which promotes T-cell receptor (TCR) ζ chain degradation.²⁰ Furthermore, GrB⁺ tB regs also express IL-10, CD25 and indoleamine-2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO). The latter enzyme mediates inhibition of T cell proliferation and promotes development of T regs. GrB-derived B regs are found in other human diseases such as tolerant graft recipients or allergy.^21,22

It is widely believed that acquisition of B regulatory functions is closely associated with the production of cytokines such as IL-10. The very first demonstrations of this association came from murine models of autoimmune or inflammatory diseases and were then confirmed in humans. Mizoguchi A et al. identified a subset of B cells in a murine model of chronic bowel inflammation that could act as B regs through their ability to produce IL-10.²³ This production is induced by stimulation of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 and TLR9.²⁴ It involves the transmission of a signal mediated by the myeloid primary response protein differentiation 88 (MyD88) adaptor, the activation of the nuclear factor κB-α kinase (NFκB), and the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3).^25,26 There are other mechanisms which induce IL-10 production by B cells that were subsequently identified. Stimulation of the B-cell receptor (BCR) via the B cell linker protein, and activation of calcium signaling via the stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM-1), or expression of CD5 on the B-cell surface have been associated with elevated production of IL-10.^27,28 Moreover, various immunosuppressive cytokines can be produced by B regs. This is the case for the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β which triggers apoptosis of effector T cells and IL-21.^29,30 More recently, the secretion of IL-21 has been shown to be responsible for an upregulation of IL-10 production in a murine model for multiple sclerosis suggesting a more heterogeneous cytokine profile of the B regs than initially suspected.³¹

Finally, several reports indicate that the activity of B regs can also be modulated. Thus, after the BCR engagement and CD40 stimulation, peripheral blood B cells proliferate and secrete the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, lymphotoxin and IL-6, stimulating immune responses.³² Alternatively, if B cells receive only CD40 stimulation in the absence of BCR activation, they produce negligible amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines, but also a significant level of IL-10 and then can be identified as B regs.³² Similarly, when treated with IL-2, marginal zone B cells can shift into a B reg phenotype since they produce a low level of TNF-α and an extremely high level of IL-10.²⁴ However, when activated by the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway via the Ras proteins called nucleoside guanyl releasing proteins (RAS, GTP), the production of IL-10 by the marginal zone B cells is stopped while the synthesis of TNF-α and TNF-β is increased, leading to the acquisition of effector capacities for T cell stimulation.^33,34 Recent studies indicate that the number of B regs is decreases with age and contributing to the susceptibility for autoimmune reactions as described in murine models.³⁵

Regulatory functions of B-cell CLL

Acquisition of B reg functions in CLL is an important yet barely explored aspect in the disease. It has been suggested that it might be controlled by the tissue location of CLL cells rather than the CLL's origin, e.g. the unmutated vs. mutated status of IgVH. Consistent with this hypothesis, it has been demonstrated that CLL cells in lymph nodes over-expressed a high number of genes associated with immune tolerance (CAV1, MCM3, BATF) compared with those found in B cells from the bone marrow or the peripheral blood.³⁶ The influence of the microenvironment on cellular behavior in CLL is strongly supported by these observations.

Moreover, CLL cells are characterized by their plasticity related to their ability to produce IL-10. The regulatory functions and the capacity to produce IL-10 are maintained in cultured CLL cells when they are stimulated by TLR agonists such as CpG-ODN and/or CD40. However, these effects can be reversed in response to BCR stimulation or when using diacylglycerol agonists. In the latter conditions, CLL cells acquire the characteristics of effector B cells with the ability to activate T cells.³⁷

CLL cells can mediate an immunosuppressive effect on different effector cells and can induce T regs. However, CLL T cells were found deficient in their capacity to constitute competent immunological synapses with antigen-presenting cells (APC).³⁸ Gorgun et al. determined that this defect concerns CD4⁺ T cells with consequences such as defective cellular differentiation as well as defects in cytoskeletal formation and vesicle trafficking.³⁹ Moreover, the level of effector memory CD4⁺ T lymphocytes from CLL patients is increased when compared to controls, and it is positively associated with a more advanced stage of the disease with treatment requirements and with unfavorable genomic aberrations.⁴⁰ T cells from CLL patients express more programmed death-1 receptor (PD1) than normal T cells, a receptor involved in tumor-mediated immunosuppression, explaining the correlation between its expression and the progression of the disease. Surprisingly, the cross-talk between CLL cells and T helper cells through cell surface CD40-CD40L co-ligation is effective and induces malignant B cell proliferation.⁴¹ Moreover, a defective cytotoxic activity of CD8⁺ T cells was observed which is related to the presence of CLL cells. Thus, healthy control CD8⁺ T cells can be rendered deficient when co-cultured with CLL cells.³⁹ These changes are mainly mediated by direct intercellular contact. CD8⁺ T cells also express PD-1, at their terminally differentiated stage, contributing to the immunosuppression observed in CLL (Table 1).⁴⁰ In addition, an elevated number of circulating CD4⁺ or CD8⁺ T regs has been noted.⁴² These T regs are effective and induce transcriptional downregulation of the TCR in naive T cells responsible for defective maturation into Th cells. Furthermore, T regs are characterized by an elevated expression of CD25. It has been suggested that excessive soluble CD25 found in CLL patients could result from T reg cell surface release. As CD25 constitutes the α chain of the heterotrimeric IL-2 receptor, the soluble CD25 isoform could prevent IL-2 binding to the effective T cells and consequently could act as an antagonist of cytokine signaling, counteracting the IL-2 antitumor activities.⁴³ The T reg expansion is present very early in the course of CLL and the T reg level is positively associated with the disease progression (Table 1).^8,44

Table 1.

Immune cells downregulated or upregulated that participate in the defective immune responses observed in CLL.

Immune cells	Cell subtypes	Increase () or Decrease (↓)	Consequences on normal functions	Disease activity	References
T cells	CD4+		↓ Immune synapse with APC	Disease progression	38,39
		memory effector CD4+ with expression of PD-1	↓Immune response	Disease progression	40
		T helpers	B cell proliferation	Disease progression	41
	CD8+	Terminally differentiated CD8+ with expression of PD-1	↓ Immune synapse with APC ↓ Cell cytotoxicity	Disease progression	39,40,102
	T reg		Inhibition of CD4+ T cells	Disease progression	8,42
			Release of CD25		38,39,43,44
NKT	iNKT	↓	Absence of CD1d+ B CLL cell lysis	Disease progression	51
	NKT like cells	↓	Inhibition by T regs		52
Neutrophil granulocytes			↓ Bactericidal activity ↓ Migration	Disease progression	54,55
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells		↓	↓ Production of IFN α	Aggressive form of disease	57
Monocytes			↓ Production of cytokines ↓ APC	Disease progression	58,103
moMDSCs			↓ APC IDO ↓ HLA DR T reg number	Disease progression	59

APC, Antigen-presenting cells; CLL, chronic Lymphocytic leukemia; HLA-DR, major histocompatibility complex, class II, DR; IDO, indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase; IFN, interferon; moMDSCs, myeloid-derived suppressor cells; NKT, natural killer T cell, PD-1, programmed cell death 1, T reg, regulatory T cell.

CLL cells can also regulate NKT and NK cells. They express more CD1d molecules on their surface than normal B cells and the expression density is correlated with the clinical outcome. High CD1d expression is associated with a poor outcome and unfavorable prognosis (Table 1).^45,46 According to their reactivity with the α-galactosylceramide glycolipid (GalCer) presented by CD1d and by their TCR, NKT cells can be divided into three subgroups.⁴⁷ Type I includes invariable cells called iNKT that in humans express a restricted TCR consisting of a Vα24-Jα18 invariant chain and a Vß11 variable chain.⁴⁸ These cells are dependent on the GalCer recognition by their TCR presented by CD1d. Type II NKT cells are also dependent on CD1d but express a more variable TCR α chain.⁴⁹ Finally, type III NKT cells, called NKT-like cells, are independent from the CD1d molecules and express semi-invariant TCR.⁵⁰ In CLL, type I and type II NKT cells recognize the α Gal-Cer antigen presented by the CD1d molecules of CLL cells, leading to tumor cell death.⁵¹ A reverse correlation is found between the percentage of CD1d⁺ CLL cells and the percentage of type I iNKT cells. Although not regulated by CD1d, type III NKT-like cells are also suspected to play an immunoprotective role in CLL and this assertion is also supported by the inverse correlation observed between the number of these cells, the T regs frequency, and the CLL disease progression (Table 1).⁵² In addition to their immunoregulatory function on NKT cells, CLL cells provide resistance to the NK cellular cytotoxic activity. Because CLL cells express the HLA-G tolerogenic molecule, they inhibit the NK cell killer function. It should be noted that the NK-dependent ADCC mechanism is also altered during B CLL.⁵³

Finally, CLL cells regulate myeloid phagocytic cells. Neutrophils play a major role in fighting infections through their ability to migrate, to produce cytokines, and to recruit immune cells. All these activities are deficient in CLL. The neutrophil migration and the chemotaxis mediated by C5a and N-formyl-methionylleucylphenylalanine (fMLP) are impaired.⁵⁴ Dysfunction in the bactericidal activity against key non-opsonized bacteria has been reported, while the micro bactericidal response against fungi seems normal (Table 1).⁵⁵ Besides, DC are subdivided into various subtypes of conventional DC and plasmacytoid DC (pDC). Both DC subtypes are effective in promoting normal antigen presentation to CD4⁺ T cells due to increased expressions of class II MHC molecules, co-stimulation molecules, and inflammatory cytokines.⁵⁶ However, a lower number and a reduced efficacy of pDC have been observed recently in progressive forms of CLL (Table 1).⁵⁷ Contrarily, the number of monocytes appears to be increased,⁵⁸ but it is associated with a qualitative impairment because monocytes dimly express HLA-DR MHC class II and CD86 molecules. These observations suggest that monocytes in CLL are not very efficient APCs and possess only a low capacity to stimulate the immune system, which would accelerate the disease progression (Table 1). These cells display several characteristics of the recently described monocytes myeloid-derived suppressor tumor cells (moMDSC) known to contribute to cancer development by supporting cancer growth; cancer scattering leads to metastasis and it has a negative impact on the regulation of the immune system. In agreement with a supplementary immunomodulatory effect, it has been recently reported that monocytes express high amounts of IDO in CLL.⁵⁹

Common phenotypic characteristics of B regs and B-cell CLL

Phenotypic comparisons of B regs and CLL cells highlight interesting common characteristics suggesting CLL cells' unexpected functional activities.

Phenotypic characteristics of B regs

The phenotypic signature of B regs remains controversial and no consensus has emerged to characterize B regs in contrast to their T cell counterparts.⁶⁰ Blair et al. and Lindner et al. defined human B regs as B cells expressing CD38⁺ CD1d⁺ IgM⁺ CD147⁺ and GrB within the B-cell immature subset CD19⁺ CD24⁺ CD38^high, respectively.^20,61 In contrast, for Iwata et al., human B regs were related to memory B cells (CD24^hiCD27⁺).⁶² For others, they could be transitional precursor B cells of the marginal zone identified as CD19⁺ CD21⁺ CD23⁺ CD24⁺ IgM⁺ cells, but also B10 cells (CD19⁺ CD5⁺ CD1d⁺) expressing IL-10 (Table 2).⁶³

Table 2.

Phenotypic characteristics of B CLL as regulatory B cells.

Phenotypic characteristics shared by regulatory and CLL B cells	Reg B cells References/Species studied	CLL B cells References/Species studied
CD1dhi CD19+	23/Mice	46/Human
	104/Mice	45/Human
CD1dhi CD5+	63/Mice	1/Human
CD19+ CD24+ CD38hi (B10)	61/Human	72/Human
		71/Human
CD24hi CD27+ IL-10+ (B10)	62/Human	4/Human
		7/Human, Mice
CD19+ granzyme B+	20/Human	73/Human
		74/Human
TACI IL-10+	66/Human	66/ Human, Mice

A distinct subtype of IL-10-producing B regs with the unique phenotype CD19^hiFcγRIIb^hi was recently observed in a murine model.⁶⁴ This phenotype is dependent on CD40-CD40L activation, known to play a major role in the induction of functional B regs and to enhance IL-10 producing transitional type 2-immature-like B reg subsets in the Mrl/lpr murine model (Table 2).⁶⁵

Recently, it has been pointed out that the expression of the BAFF receptor TACI as a phenotypic characteristic of B regs that mediates the B reg IL-10 production (Table 2).⁶⁶

Phenotypic characteristics of B-cell CLL

Some phenotypic modifications of B CLL cells result from cytogenetic alterations and mutations. Their identification provides better understanding of the origin and physiopathology of the disease.⁶⁷ Phenotypic studies highlight the identification of various sub-populations associated with the progression of the disease or with cytogenetic anomalies. Thus, CD19⁺ CD27⁻ B cells derived from CD5⁺ mature B cells with unmutated IgVH seem to be clearly dissociated from the CD19⁺CD27⁺ B cells derived from post germinal center B cells with mutated IgVH.⁵ However, this dichotomy has not been seen by other authors. So, Klein et al. demonstrated that the gene profiles and the CLL origin are independent from the IgVH genotype, suggesting a homogeneous phenotype of memory CD27⁺ B cells (Table 2).⁴

CLL cells produce IL-10, via a pathway that involves CD5 through the downstream activation of the two transcription factors STAT3 and NFAT2.²⁸ The contribution of CD5 has been confirmed in experimental approaches in CLL cells to produce IL-10 by using small interfering (si)CD5 RNAs that lower the production of IL-10. On the other hand, forcing CD5 expression in human B cells, with plasmid technology, promotes IL-10 expression. Moreover, the IL-10 level in serum is increased in CLL compared to controls.⁶⁸

Another common characteristic of CLL cells and B regs is the expression of the cell surface CD38 ectoenzyme that promotes cytokine production, B CLL migratory potential through the hydrolysis of nicotinomide adenine dinucleotides (NAD) to cyclic adenosine dinucleotide-phosphate (ADP)-ribose, and the control of intracellular Ca²⁺ levels.^69,70 This marker is correlated with the CLL disease activity facilitating CLL cell circulation within the lymph nodes and favoring tumor growth and survival.^71,72

Furthermore, CLL cells can also express CD1d and produce GrB to gain cytotoxic potential after activation by IL-21.⁷³ GrB production is further enhanced following stimulation of TLR9 with CpG-ODN and in the presence of IL-21 (Table 2).^74,75 Interestingly, the level of TLR9 expression in CLL appears to be positively correlated with the expression of the immunosuppressive molecule HLA-G and its receptor CD85j.

CLL cells also express the FcγRIIb molecule similar to B regs. This expression is detrimental to the efficacy of rituximab (RTX), a therapeutic anti-CD20 antibody. In fact, FcγRIIb allows RTX internalization in a cis manner and after phosphorylation becomes internalized along with CD20: anti-CD20 complexes before lysosomal degradation.⁷⁶

Finally, as described for the B regs, BAFF stimulation promotes IL-10 production by CLL cells in a murine model of CLL but also in CLL patients.⁶⁶ The intracellular signaling pathway looks identical to that found in B regs and the expression of TACI on the surface of CLL cells is promoted by the stimulation of CD40 and IL-4R engagement.⁷⁷

What are recent immunotherapies ensuing from the Implication of B-cell CLL cells as B regs?

The actual gold standard for treating CLL patients is based on chemotherapy associated with monoclonal antibodies (mAb). RTX was the first chimeric anti-CD20 mAb approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) and CLL. However, resistance and relapses are frequently observed.^78,79 This raises the problem of cell targeting and also the deleterious effect of CLL on the immune system which must be improved by efficient immunotherapy. Overall, clarification of functional and phenotypic characteristics of B CLL cells should facilitate the development of efficient therapeutic strategies based on the implications of B regs in CLL.

Treatments that reverse B CLL regulatory functions

Co-stimulatory molecules and T cell activation

Re-educating CLL cells from a B reg phenotype to effector B cells is an interesting approach. To this end, prerequisites are required, including CLL capacity to express important co-stimulatory molecules to activate competent T lymphocytes. The protein kinase C (PKC) agonist bryostatin is a possible candidate. Thus, treating CLL cells with bryostatin increases their capacity to stimulate a T cell response, Th1 cytokine production, and expression of co-stimulatory molecules (Fig. 1).⁸⁰

Figure 1.

Immunotherapies based on regulatory B characteristics of B CLL cells. Several immunotherapies are based on the re-education of T cell activation. They are mediated by bryostatin with expression of co-stimulatory molecules and Th1 cytokine production, the T CAR targeting CD19 on B CLL cells, transfection of CD40L into B CLL cells, use of blinatumomab (anti-CD3xanti-CD19 bispecific Ab), polarized DC and lenalidomide leading Th17 expansion and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Other immunotherapies use the modulation of T regs. This could be realized by blockage of CD200 on B CLL cells and thalidomide, fludarabine, green tea constituents and mAb targeting CD25 or CTLA-4. Finally, stimulation of NK cells and increase of ADCC are realized by recombinant IL-15 and lenalidomide. NK cells can produce BAFF after binding of the anti-CD20 Ab rituximab to NK Fc receptor. A neutralizing anti-BAFF Ab, belimumab, prevents metabolism of CLL cells and restores efficacy of NK cells. Kuromamin, a CD38 inhibitor causes a decrease of CLL cells in the bone marrow and in the spleen but also, an increase in the peripheral blood. Ab, antibody; ADCC, antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity; CAR, chimeric zntigen receptor T-cell therapy; CD40L, CD40 ligand; CLL, chronic lymphocytic leukemia; CTLA-4, (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4); DC, dendritic cell; mAb, monoclonal antibody; NK, natural killer; Rhuman IL-15, recombinant IL-15; Th, T helper; T reg, regulatory T cells.

Moreover, re-educating T cells into effector T cells can be achieved by using T cell therapy. It is currently possible with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. CARs are designed to recognize a specific antigen on target cells and are composed of intracellular T-cell signaling domains fused primarily to single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) from mAbs directed to this specific antigen. Retroviral construction leads to the expression of CAR on the T cell surface. A CD19-targeting T CAR has been successfully tested inducing CLL cell lysis by the activation of T cells.⁸¹ A supplementary co-stimulatory signal by CD28 may be necessary to increase the antitumor efficacy of the T cells (Fig. 1).⁸²

CD40L

CD4⁺CD40L⁺ T cells in proliferative centers play an essential role in CLL cell activation, proliferation and survival. Triggering CD40 in B-cell lymphoma cell lines has been reported to suppress growth and to induce apoptosis in some cases.⁸³ However, treatment with Lucatumumab, an anti-CD40 antagonist Ab, appears to have minimal clinical efficacy.⁸⁴ In addition, CLL cells weakly express the costimulatory CD80/CD86 molecules, which makes them poorly effective APC. Genetic therapy based on transfection of CD40L in B-cell CLL was tested and found to promote CLL-specific autologous cytotoxic T lymphocytes in vitro (Fig. 1) due to an increased expression of upregulating CD80/CD86 co-stimulatory and CD54 adhesion molecules.^85,86

CD200

Targeting CLL immune modulatory CD200 molecules is another interesting approach. Their blockage contributes to the inhibition of T reg activity and enhances the cytotoxic T cell response.⁸⁷ The expression of CD200 is upregulated on CLL cells and their stimulation is sufficient to induce T regs, and to downregulate the Th1 response by decreasing IL-2 and IFNγ pro-inflammatory cytokine synthesis (Fig. 1).^88,89

CD38

In CLL, expression of CD38 represents a marker of disease aggressiveness with a poor survival prognosis. For this reason, the effects of Kuromamin, a CD38 inhibitor, have been evaluated. Its use causes a decrease of CLL cells in the bone marrow and in the spleen but also, an increase in the peripheral blood (Fig. 1). ⁷¹

Treatments that restore immune regulation

Innate immune system

The ability of NK cells to lyse CLL cells by direct contact or through ADCC is compromised in CLL patients. Different strategies were developed to restore efficient killer NK activities. For example, the recombinant human IL-15 (rhIL-15) was used and showed the restoration of the trans-presentation between CLL cells and NK cells that further promotes the activation and proliferation of the latter cells leading to leukemic B cell depletion and ADCC reaction in the presence of anti-CD20 antibodies such as RTX (Fig. 1). ^90-92 Moreover, binding of RTX to NK Fc receptor induces the production of BAFF by NK cells enhancing CLL metabolic activity which impairs the NK direct lysis and the RTX-induced cell lysis by RTX. These observations encourage the use of belimumab, the neutralizing anti-BAFF antibody, in CLL. The metabolism of CLL cells is prevented and the efficacy of NK cells is restored in allogeneic and autologous systems (Fig. 1).⁹³

Finally, the use of DCs to kill malignant cells is also supported by Junevik et al. DCs isolated from patients and expressing a strong functional rate of CD70 were identified and called α-type 1- polarized DC (α DC1s) (Fig. 1).⁹⁴ These cells produce IL-12p70 causing the activation of effector cells. To achieve the upregulation of CD70 expression on them, DCs are incubated in the presence of PGE2 (prostaglandin E2). This generates functionally activated cells leading to T-cell survival. Further research on pDCs demonstrated a possible increase of their activity using TGF-β and TNF inhibitors. Following this strategy, the tumor mass decreased.⁵⁷

An adaptive immune system

The deficient activity of effector T cells is partially due to their direct interactions with CLL cells.³⁸ Lenalidomide, a thalidomide analog, was studied based on its anti-neoplastic, anti-angiogenic, pro-erythropoietin and immunomodulatory activities. This drug stimulates T cells through CD28, leads to Th17 expansion and generates the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, T reg repression and NK ADCC increased the effect (Fig. 1).⁹⁵ Adaptive therapy was recently elaborated.⁹⁶ A bispecific (CD3 × CD19) antibody, blinatumomab, has been designed, acting both as a T cell stimulator and a CLL depletion agent. Associated with the recombinant human IL-2, ex vivo peripheral blood mononuclear cells from CLL patients were incubated for 3 weeks with blinatumomab. T cells were mostly effector and central memory cells with the Th1 subset dominating and were efficiently cytotoxic against CLL in the presence of the bispecific Ab (Fig. 1).

T regs

Various therapeutic molecules demonstrated their ability to modulate T reg activity in CLL such as fludarabine, thalidomide and more recently green tea constituents, for patients in the early stage of the disease.^42,97,98 Other treatments are currently in development including mAb targeting CD25 or CTLA-4 molecules (Fig. 1).^99,100 These antibodies are being tested in clinical trials for hematological or solid tumors. However, if T reg inhibition shows interesting results, this will become an area of intense research. It has been indeed reported in NHL that T reg cells were capable of killing the malignant cells with significant impact on survival.¹⁰¹

Conclusions

A better comprehension of the immune responses and characterization of the impact of B-cell CLL as B regs in these responses are worthy of pursuit in order to establish new efficient treatments.

Disclosure of potential conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the “Ligue contre le Cancer,” “association Laurette Fugain,” Agence Nationale de la Recherche under the “Investissement d'Avenir” program with the reference ANR-11-LABX-0016-001, and the “Région Bretagne” for their support. Thanks are also due to Geneviève Michel and Simone Forest for their help typing of the paper. The editorial assistance of Dr. Wesley H. Brooks, University of South Florida, USA, is greatly appreciated.