Induction of antigen-specific T cell anergy: an early event in the course of tumor progression

K Staveley-O'Carroll, E Sotomayor… - Proceedings of the …, 1998 - National Acad Sciences
K Staveley-O'Carroll, E Sotomayor, J Montgomery, I Borrello, L Hwang, S Fein, D Pardoll
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1998National Acad Sciences
The priming of tumor-antigen-specific T cells is critical for the initiation of successful anti-
tumor immune responses, yet the fate of such cells during tumor progression is unknown.
Naive CD4+ T cells specific for an antigen expressed by tumor cells were transferred into
tumor-bearing mice. Transient clonal expansion occurred early after transfer, accompanied
by phenotypic changes associated with antigen recognition. Nevertheless, these cells had a
diminished response to peptide antigen in vitro and were unable to be primed in vivo. The …
The priming of tumor-antigen-specific T cells is critical for the initiation of successful anti-tumor immune responses, yet the fate of such cells during tumor progression is unknown. Naive CD4+ T cells specific for an antigen expressed by tumor cells were transferred into tumor-bearing mice. Transient clonal expansion occurred early after transfer, accompanied by phenotypic changes associated with antigen recognition. Nevertheless, these cells had a diminished response to peptide antigen in vitro and were unable to be primed in vivo. The development of antigen-specific T cell anergy is an early event in the tumor-bearing host, and it suggests that tolerance to tumor antigens may impose a significant barrier to therapeutic vaccination.
National Acad Sciences