Anti-PD-1 Induces M1 Polarization in the Glioma Microenvironment and Exerts Therapeutic Efficacy in the Absence of CD8 Cytotoxic T Cells

Clin Cancer Res. 2020 Sep 1;26(17):4699-4712. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-19-4110. Epub 2020 Jun 18.

Abstract

Purpose: Anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) therapy has demonstrated inconsistent therapeutic results in patients with glioblastoma (GBM) including those with profound impairments in CD8 T-cell effector responses.

Experimental design: We ablated the CD8α gene in BL6 mice and intercrossed them with Ntv-a mice to determine how CD8 T cells affect malignant progression in forming endogenous gliomas. Tumor-bearing mice were treated with PD-1 to determine the efficacy of this treatment in the absence of T cells. The tumor microenvironment of treated and control mice was analyzed by IHC and FACS.

Results: We observed a survival benefit in immunocompetent mice with endogenously arising intracranial glioblastomas after intravenous administration of anti-PD-1. The therapeutic effect of PD-1 administration persisted in mice even after genetic ablation of the CD8 gene (CD8-/-). CD11b+ and Iba1+ monocytes and macrophages were enriched in the glioma microenvironment of the CD8-/- mice. The macrophages and microglia assumed a proinflammatory M1 response signature in the setting of anti-PD-1 blockade through the elimination of PD-1-expressing macrophages and microglia in the tumor microenvironment. Anti-PD-1 can inhibit the proliferation of and induce apoptosis of microglia through antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, as fluorescently labeled anti-PD-1 was shown to gain direct access to the glioma microenvironment.

Conclusions: Our results show that the therapeutic effect of anti-PD-1 blockade in GBM may be mediated by the innate immune system, rather than by CD8 T cells. Anti-PD-1 immunologically modulates innate immunity in the glioma microenvironment-likely a key mode of activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Brain Neoplasms / immunology
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cell Line, Tumor / transplantation
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Glioblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Glioblastoma / immunology
  • Glioblastoma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Immunity, Innate / drug effects
  • Macrophage Activation / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Tumor Microenvironment / drug effects
  • Tumor Microenvironment / immunology
  • Tumor-Associated Macrophages / drug effects*
  • Tumor-Associated Macrophages / immunology

Substances

  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
  • Pdcd1 protein, mouse
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor