- Joshi, Nikhil S;
- Akama-Garren, Elliot H;
- Lu, Yisi;
- Lee, Da-Yae;
- Chang, Gregory P;
- Li, Amy;
- DuPage, Michel;
- Tammela, Tuomas;
- Kerper, Natanya R;
- Farago, Anna F;
- Robbins, Rebecca;
- Crowley, Denise M;
- Bronson, Roderick T;
- Jacks, Tyler
Infiltration of regulatory T (Treg) cells into many tumor types correlates with poor patient prognoses. However, mechanisms of intratumoral Treg cell function remain to be elucidated. We investigated Treg cell function in a genetically engineered mouse model of lung adenocarcinoma and found that Treg cells suppressed anti-tumor responses in tumor-associated tertiary lymphoid structures (TA-TLSs). TA-TLSs have been described in human lung cancers, but their function remains to be determined. TLSs in this model were spatially associated with >90% of tumors and facilitated interactions between T cells and tumor-antigen-presenting dendritic cells (DCs). Costimulatory ligand expression by DCs and T cell proliferation rates increased in TA-TLSs upon Treg cell depletion, leading to tumor destruction. Thus, we propose that Treg cells in TA-TLSs can inhibit endogenous immune responses against tumors, and targeting these cells might provide therapeutic benefit for cancer patients.