Premium
Indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase contributes to tumor cell evasion of T cell‐mediated rejection
Author(s) -
Friberg Maria,
Jennings Ronald,
Alsarraj Marwan,
Dessureault Sophie,
Cantor Alan,
Extermann Martine,
Mellor Andrew L.,
Munn David H.,
Antonia Scott J.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.10645
Subject(s) - indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase , immune system , cancer research , priming (agriculture) , in vivo , biology , t cell , lewis lung carcinoma , cell , immunology , cancer , metastasis , tryptophan , biochemistry , botany , germination , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , amino acid
The priming of an appropriate anti‐tumor T cell response rarely results in the rejection of established tumors. The characteristics of tumors that allow them to evade a T cell‐mediated rejection are unknown for many tumors. We report on evidence that the expression of the immunosuppressive enzyme, indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase (IDO) by mononuclear cells that invade tumors and tumor‐draining lymph nodes, is 1 mechanism that may account for this observation. Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells stimulated a more robust allogeneic T cell response in vitro in the presence of a competitive inhibitor of IDO, 1‐methyl tryptophan. When administered in vivo this inhibitor also resulted in delayed LLC tumor growth in syngeneic mice. Our study provides evidence for a novel mechanism whereby tumors evade rejection by the immune system, and suggests the possibility that inhibiting IDO may be developed as an anti‐cancer immunotherapeutic strategy. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.