CD163(+)cytokine-producing cDC2 stimulate intratumoral type 1 T cell responses in HPV16-induced oropharyngeal cancer

Santegoets, S.J.; Duurland, C.L.; Jordanova, E.J.; Ham, V.J. van; Ehsan, I.; Loof, N.M.; Narang, V.; Dutertre, C.A.; Ginhoux, F.; Egmond, S.L. van; Welters, M.J.P.; Burg, S.H. van der

doi:doi:10.1136/jitc-2020-001053

Background Human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is a distinct clinical entity with a much better prognosis after (chemo)radiotherapy than HPV-negative OPSCC, especially in patients with a concomitant intratumoral HPV-specific and type-1 cytokine-oriented T cell response. However, knowledge on the type of myeloid cells and their coordination with intratumoral T cells and influence on patient outcome in OPSCC is lacking. Methods We analyzed the presence of intratumoral myeloid cells and their relationship to tumor-infiltrating T cells and patient outcome in a well-described cohort of HPV16(+)patients with OPSCC using multispectral immunofluorescence, flow cytometry and functional analyses. Results We show that the tumor microenvironment of HPV16(+)OPSCC tumors with such an ongoing HPV16-specific T cell response is highly infiltrated with a newly defined CD163(+)cytokine-producing subset of conventional dendritic cell type 2 (cDC2), called...Show moreBackground Human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is a distinct clinical entity with a much better prognosis after (chemo)radiotherapy than HPV-negative OPSCC, especially in patients with a concomitant intratumoral HPV-specific and type-1 cytokine-oriented T cell response. However, knowledge on the type of myeloid cells and their coordination with intratumoral T cells and influence on patient outcome in OPSCC is lacking. Methods We analyzed the presence of intratumoral myeloid cells and their relationship to tumor-infiltrating T cells and patient outcome in a well-described cohort of HPV16(+)patients with OPSCC using multispectral immunofluorescence, flow cytometry and functional analyses. Results We show that the tumor microenvironment of HPV16(+)OPSCC tumors with such an ongoing HPV16-specific T cell response is highly infiltrated with a newly defined CD163(+)cytokine-producing subset of conventional dendritic cell type 2 (cDC2), called DC3. These CD163(+)cDC2 predominantly stimulated type 1 T cell polarization and produced high levels of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and IL-18, required for IFN gamma and IL-22 production by T cells after cognate antigen stimulation. Tumor-infiltration with these CD163(+)cDC2 positively correlated with the infiltration by Tbet(+)and tumor-specific T cells, and with prolonged survival. Conclusions These data suggest an important role for intratumoral CD163(+)cDC2 in stimulating tumor-infiltrating T cells to exert their antitumor effects.Show less

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CD163(+)cytokine-producing cDC2 stimulate intratumoral type 1 T cell responses in HPV16-induced oropharyngeal cancer