Human natural killer cells promote cross‐presentation of tumor cell‐derived antigens by dendritic cells

• Published in: International journal of cancer Vol. 136; no. 5; pp. 1085 - 1094
• Main Authors: Deauvieau, Florence, Ollion, Vincent, Doffin, Anne‐Claire, Achard, Carole, Fonteneau, Jean‐François, Verronese, Estelle, Durand, Isabelle, Ghittoni, Raffaella, Marvel, Jacqueline, Dezutter‐Dambuyant, Colette, Walzer, Thierry, Vie, Henri, Perrot, Ivan, Goutagny, Nadège, Caux, Christophe, Valladeau‐Guilemond, Jenny
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-03-2015; Wiley
• Subjects: Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity; Antigen Presentation - immunology; Antigens; Antigens, Neoplasm - immunology; Cancer; Cross-Priming - immunology; cross‐presentation; dendritic cell; Dendritic cells; Dendritic Cells - immunology; Dendritic Cells - pathology; Humans; Immunity, Cellular - immunology; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Killer Cells, Natural - pathology; Life Sciences; Lymphocyte receptors; mAb therapy; Medical research; Neoplasms - immunology; Neoplasms - pathology; NK cell; T cell receptors; Tumor Cells, Cultured; mAb therapy; cross-presentation; dendritic cell; NK cell
• ISSN: 0020-7136; 1097-0215
• DOI: 10.1002/ijc.29087

Dendritic cells (DCs) cross‐present antigen (Ag) to initiate T‐cell immunity against most infections and tumors. Natural killer (NK) cells are innate cytolytic lymphocytes that have emerged as key modulators of multiple DC functions. Here, we show that human NK cells promote cross‐presentation of tumor cell‐derived Ag by DC leading to Ag‐specific CD8+ T‐cell activation. Surprisingly, cytotoxic function of NK cells was not required. Instead, we highlight a critical and nonredundant role for IFN‐γ and TNF‐α production by NK cells to enhance cross‐presentation by DC using two different Ag models. Importantly, we observed that NK cells promote cell‐associated Ag cross‐presentation selectively by monocytes‐derived DC (Mo‐DC) and CD34‐derived CD11bnegCD141high DC subsets but not by myeloid CD11b+ DC. Moreover, we demonstrate that triggering NK cell activation by monoclonal antibodies (mAbs)‐coated tumor cells leads to efficient DC cross‐presentation, supporting the concept that NK cells can contribute to therapeutic mAbs efficiency by inducing downstream adaptive immunity. Taken together, our findings point toward a novel role of human NK cells bridging innate and adaptive immunity through selective induction of cell‐associated Ag cross‐presentation by CD141high DC, a process that could be exploited to better harness Ag‐specific cellular immunity in immunotherapy.
What's new?
Dendritic cells (DCs) can activate an immune response by ‘presenting’ specific antigens on their surface. In this study, the authors found that when tumor cells are coated with therapeutic antibodies (mAbs), natural killer (NK) cells are activated to trigger the presentation of tumor antigens by special subsets of DCs. They also found that IFN‐γ and TNF‐α are crucial to this process. These results support the concept that NK cells can contribute to the efficacy of therapeutic mAbs by inducing anti‐tumor adaptive immunity.