Endogenous IL-33 exerts CD8 T cell antitumor responses overcoming pro-tumor effects by regulatory T cells in a colon carcinoma model.

Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a nuclear-associated cytokine of the IL-1 family. IL-33 and its receptor ST2 axis exert conflicting anti-tumor and pro-tumor effects in various tumors. In this study, we examined the role of endogenously produced IL-33 in the colon-26 tumor model, in which involvement of the IL-33:ST2 pathway was negligible on the tumor side.

HPV16 E2 protein promotes innate immunity by modulating immunosuppressive status.

The balance between active immune responses against human papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV-induced immune escape regulates viral clearance and carcinogenesis. To understand the role of the early viral protein HPV16 E2 in host innate immune responses, the HPV16 E2-transfected murine squamous cell carcinoma cell line SCCVII (SCC/E2) was generated and anti-tumor responses in T-cell-depleted mice were evaluated. Tumor growth of SCC/E2 was markedly reduced.