Initiation of inflammatory tumorigenesis by CTLA4 insufficiency due to type 2 cytokines

Jason Miska, Jen Bon Lui, Kevin H. Toomer, Priyadharshini Devarajan, Xiaodong Cai, Jean Marie Houghton, Diana M. Lopez, Maria T. Abreu, Gaofeng Wang, Zhibin Chen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Genetically predisposed CTLA4 insufficiency in humans is associated with gastric cancer development, which is paradoxical to the prototypical role of CTLA4 in suppressing antitumor immunity. CTLA4 is a critical immune checkpoint against autoimmune disorders. Autoimmunity has been implicated in protumor or antitumor activities. Here, we show that CTLA4 insufficiency initiates de novo tumorigenesis in the mouse stomach through inflammation triggered by host-intrinsic immune dysregulation rather than microbiota, with age-associated progression to malignancy accompanied by epigenetic dysregulation. The inflammatory tumorigenesis required CD4 T cells, but not the T H 1 or T H 17 subsets. Deficiencies in IL-4 and IL-13 or IL-4 receptor α broke the link between inflammation and initiation of tumorigenesis. This study establishes the causality of CTLA4 insufficiency in gastric cancer and uncovers a role of type 2 inflammation in initiating gastric epithelial transformation. These findings suggest possible improvement of immune therapies by blocking tumorigenic type 2 inflammation while preserving antitumor type 1 immunity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)841-858
Number of pages18
JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine
Volume215
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Mar 2018
Externally publishedYes

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