Proximal signaling responses in peripheral T cells from colorectal cancer patients are affected by high concentrations of circulating prostaglandin E.

Patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) have been shown to have elevated levels of circulating prostaglandin E (PGE) which promotes cancer progression and suppresses T cell immune responses. In this study we evaluated whether signaling responses in T lymphocytes obtained from peripheral blood of CRC patients were affected by the sustained exposure to increased levels of PGE. The phosphorylation status of an extended panel of proteins involved in downstream signaling cascades in T cells was profiled at a single cell level both in naïve and antigen-experienced cells after triggering T cell-, prostaglandin- and interleukin-2 receptors.

Kinetics and activation requirements of contact-dependent immune suppression by human regulatory T cells.

Naturally occurring regulatory T cells (Tregs) maintain self tolerance by dominant suppression of potentially self-reactive T cells in peripheral tissues. However, the activation requirements, the temporal aspects of the suppressive activity, and mode of action of human Tregs are subjects of controversy. In this study, we show that Tregs display significant variability in the suppressive activity ex vivo as 54% of healthy blood donors examined had fully suppressive Tregs spontaneously, whereas in the remaining donors, anti-CD3/CD2/CD28 stimulation was required for Treg suppressive activity.

Regulatory T-cell-mediated inhibition of antitumor immune responses is associated with clinical outcome in patients with liver metastasis from colorectal cancer.

Adaptive regulatory T cells (Tregs) contribute to an immunosuppressive microenvironment in colorectal cancer (CRC). Here, we examined whether the level of Treg-mediated inhibition of antitumor immune responses in patients with metastatic CRC (metCRC) selected for liver resection is associated with clinical outcome. Preoperatively and at follow-ups, we did flow-based phenotyping, examined antitumor immunity using peptides from carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) protein in the presence or absence of CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(dim/-) cells (Tregs) and determined cytokine and PGE(2) levels in patient blood samples.

Differentiation of naive CD4+ T cells into CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells by continuous antigen stimulation.

Human CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (T(R)) cells express the transcription factor forkhead box p3 (FOXP3) and have potent immunosuppressive properties. While naturally occurring T(R) cells develop in the thymus, adaptive T(R) cells develop in the periphery from naive CD4+ T cells. Adaptive T(R) cells may express cyclooxygenase type 2 (COX-2) and suppress effector T cells by a PGE(2)-dependent mechanism, which is reversible with COX inhibitors.

Generation of highly suppressive adaptive CD8(+)CD25(+)FOXP3(+) regulatory T cells by continuous antigen stimulation.

Continuous antigen stimulation of CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells leads to generation of adaptive CD4(+)CD25(+)FOXP3(+) regulatory T (T(R)) cells. Here, we show that highly suppressive adaptive CD8(+)CD25(+)FOXP3(+) T cells can be generated in the same manner by continuous antigen stimulation in the presence of CD14(+) monocytes. During the course of stimulation, acquisition of immunosuppressive properties develops in parallel with up-regulation and expression of cytotoxic molecules.

LPS-activated monocytes suppress T-cell immune responses and induce FOXP3+ T cells through a COX-2-PGE2-dependent mechanism.

Monocytes initiate innate immune responses and interact with T cells to induce antigen-specific immune responses by antigen presentation and secretion of humoral factors. We have previously shown that adaptive regulatory T cells inhibit T-cell effector functions in a cyclooxygenase (COX)-2-prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2))-dependent manner and that PGE(2) converts resting CD4+CD25- T cells into FOXP3+ T cells with a suppressive phenotype. Here, we demonstrate that stimulation of monocytes with LPS leads to suppression of T-cell immune responses by a COX-2-PGE(2)-dependent mechanism that is reversible with COX-2 inhibitors as well as PGE(2)-neutralizing antibody and cAMP antagonist.

Regulatory T cells in colorectal cancer patients suppress anti-tumor immune activity in a COX-2 dependent manner.

Objective: Naturally occurring regulatory T (T(R)) cells suppress autoreactive T cells whereas adaptive T(R) cells, induced in the periphery, play an important role in chronic viral diseases and cancer. Several studies indicate that cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors prevent cancer development of colon adenomas and delay disease progression in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). We have shown that adaptive T(R) cells express COX-2 and produce PGE(2) that suppress effector T cells in a manner that is reversed by COX-inhibitors.