Jain, Vatsal

Abstract Introduction Glioblastoma is an aggressive brain cancer with poor prognosis for which immunotherapies have fared poorly. In part, the failure in immunotherapies is attributed to the existence of severe local and systemic immunosuppression in GBM. We determined that majority of hallmark features of systemic immunosuppression were linked to immunosuppressive factors in serum. Our data indicate that serum of glioma-bearing mice harbors heightened levels of cell-free DNA (CF-DNA). Methods We evaluated the extent to which CF-DNA contributes to systemic T cell dysfunction in mouse models of GBM and GBM patient plasma samples. Results We determined that majority of hallmark features of systemic immunosuppression were linked to immunosuppressive factors in serum. Our data indicate that serum of glioma-bearing mice harbors heightened levels of cell-free DNA (CF-DNA). Removing CF-DNA from serum improves T cell responses while adding CF-DNA derived from serum of glioma-bearing subjects to healthy T cells directly inhibits their functions. We have also verified that CF-DNA is detectible in sera isolated from patients with GBM. When compared to healthy controls, GBM patients have higher quantities of CF-DNA is their plasma. Interestingly, our preliminary data implicates neutrophil NETosis as the likely source of CF-DNA in sera of GBM patients. Moreover, we stained GBM tumor sections with citrullinated histone 3 (cit-H3) to evaluate the extent of NETosis in GBM patients. We determined evidence of significant NETosis within patient brain tumors. Systemic immunosuppression is detrimental to the success of immune-modulating therapies and patient survival. By identifying and removing the source of systemic immunosuppression, we will enhance immune responses against the tumor likely improving patient survival. Conclusion Glioblastoma causes immune suppression outside of the brain via the released CF-DNA. Our studies in GBM patients and mouse models help develop strategies to reverse immune dysfunction and improve outcomes. Funding Source NIH K99/R00 Topic Categories Immune Mechanisms of Human Disease (HUM)

Abstract Bone marrow is the primary immune organ responsible for stem cell maintenance and hematopoiesis. However, the contribution of the bone marrow niche for the generation of adaptive immune responses is less well-understood. We therefore assessed the capacity of virus antigen-specific CD8 T cells to be generated and expanded in bone marrow following acute neurotropic virus infection. Intracranial infection with the neurotropic Theiler’s Murine Encephalomyelitis Virus (TMEV) results in an acute infection in the C57BL/6 mouse which is cleared within 4 weeks post infection due to the generation of an antigen-specific CD8 T cell response against the immunodominant epitope VP2 121-130 . We determined that 1-10% of CD8 T cells present in the femoral, and sternal bone marrow were virus antigen-specific 5-7 days after intracranial TMEV infection. We determined that antigen-specific CD8 T cells were generated in the bone marrow with similar kinetics to that of conventional responses in the secondary lymphoid organs. Importantly, continuous treatment with FTY720, which sequesters T cells outside of the blood, did not eliminate antigen-specific CD8 T cells in the bone marrow compartment indicating generation within the bone marrow niche. Similarly, injection of Poly I:C admixed with fluorescently labeled ovalbumin into the brain generated a similar antigen-specific CD8 T cell response in the bone marrow indicating these responses occur following various brain insults. This model also identified the likely antigen presenting cell (APC) responsible for scavenging antigens from the brain and trafficking into the bone marrow as a migratory myeloid-derived APC. Moreover, following clearance of TMEV infection, CD8 T cells in the bone marrow established durable memory. Antigen-specific memory CD8 T cells in the bone marrow reactivated and expanded upon cognate antigen reencounter. Antigen-specific reactivation of memory CD8 T cells within the bone marrow caused a concurrent increase in Lineage-, Sca-1+, c-Kit+ (LSK) and CD11b+ MHCII+ myeloid cells. This increase in the LSKs and myeloid cells in the bone marrow niche was abrogated with CD8 T cell depletion. We conclude that brain viral infections induce in situ effector and memory T cell responses within the bone marrow compartment. Memory recall CD8 T cell responses induce niche dysregulation by expanding LSK cells and lead to an influx of MHCII+ myeloid cells. Our data pave the way for crucial studies of bone marrow resident antigen-specific CD8 T cells in health and diseases.