Abstract 3663: An anti-CD4 depleting antibody reverses regulatory T-cell-induced suppression of dendritic cells while preventing nonspecific CD4+T cell responses in tumor-bearing mice

Administration of an anti-CD4 depleting antibody induces tumor-specific CD8+ T cell responses in tumor-bearing mice, although the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain unclear. CD4+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) impair antigen presentation by DCs through CTLA4-mediated down-regulation of CD80/CD86. In the present study, we investigated the effects of an anti-CD4 depleting monoclonal antibody (mAb) on DC responses in the B16F10 and LLC subcutaneous tumor models, and compared these effects with those of Treg targeting therapy. Administration of anti-CD4 mAb up-regulated CD80/CD86 in tumor-infiltrating DCs, and in migrating-type but not resident-type DC subsets in the tumor-draining lymph node. The upregulation of CD80/CD86 on these DC populations was correlated with increased proliferation of tumor-specific CD8+ T cells in the tumor-draining lymph node. Anti-CD4 mAb-induced CD80/CD86 up-regulation and tumor-specific CD8+ T cell responses were remarkably higher than that induced by an anti-CD25 depleting mAb or an anti-CTLA4 blocking mAb, and were equivalent to that induced by diphtheria-toxin-induced selective depletion of Tregs in Foxp3-DTR mice. Importantly, the activation of CD4+ conventional T cells and B cells in the peripheral lymph nodes that was observed following Treg depletion was not observed following anti-CD4 mAb administration. In conclusion, anti-CD4 depleting antibody therapy is an effective way to evoke anti-tumor CD8+ T cell responses by reversing regulatory T cell-induced suppression of dendritic cells, and to reduce the risk of severe autoimmunity in cancer patients. Citation Format: Satoshi Ueha, Haru Ogiwara, Shoji Yokochi, Yoshiro Ishiwata, Francis Shand, Shohei Hori, Kazuhiro Kakimi, Satoru Ito, Kouji Matsushima. An anti-CD4 depleting antibody reverses regulatory T-cell-induced suppression of dendritic cells while preventing nonspecific CD4+ T cell responses in tumor-bearing mice [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3663. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-3663