Galectin-3 is a 31 kD lectin that modulates T-cell responses through several mechanisms including apoptosis, T-cell receptor (TCR) cross-linking, and TCR down-regulation. We found patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) responding to a granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-secreting allogeneic PDA vaccine developed post immunization neutralizing antibodies to galectin-3. We show that galectin-3 binds activated antigen-committed CD8+ T cells only in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Galectin-3-deficient mice exhibit improved CD8+ T-cell effector function, and increased expression of several inflammatory genes. Galectin-3 binds to LAG-3, and LAG-3 expression is necessary for galectin-3-mediated suppression of CD8+ T cells in vitro. Lastly, galectin-3-deficient mice have elevated levels of circulating plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC), which are superior to conventional dendritic cells (cDC) in activating CD8+ T cells. Thus, inhibiting galectin-3 in conjunction with CD8+ T cell-directed immunotherapies should enhance the tumor-specific immune response.

Genetic and antigenic characterization established the uniqueness of this virus circulating in dogs.

BackgroundCancer vaccines are designed to activate and enhance cancer-antigen-targeted T cells that are suppressed through multiple mechanisms of immune tolerance in cancer-bearing hosts. T regulatory cell (Treg) suppression of tumor-specific T cells is one barrier to effective immunization. A second mechanism is the deletion of high avidity tumor-specific T cells, which leaves a less effective low avidity tumor specific T cell repertoire available for activation by vaccines. Treg depleting agents including low dose cyclophosphamide (Cy) and antibodies that deplete CD25-expressing Tregs have been used with limited success to enhance the potency of tumor-specific vaccines. In addition, few studies have evaluated mechanisms that activate low avidity cancer antigen-specific T cells. Therefore, we developed high and low avidity HER-2/neu-specific TCR transgenic mouse colonies specific for the same HER-2/neu epitope to define the tolerance mechanisms that specifically affect high versus low avidity tumor-specific T cells.Methodology/Principal FindingsHigh and low avidity CD8+ T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mice specific for the breast cancer antigen HER-2/neu (neu) were developed to provide a purified source of naïve, tumor-specific T cells that can be used to study tolerance mechanisms. Adoptive transfer studies into tolerant FVB/N-derived HER-2/neu transgenic (neu-N) mice demonstrated that high avidity, but not low avidity, neu-specific T cells are inhibited by Tregs as the dominant tolerizing mechanism. High avidity T cells persisted, produced IFNγ, trafficked into tumors, and lysed tumors after adoptive transfer into mice treated with a neu-specific vaccine and low dose Cy to deplete Tregs. Analysis of Treg subsets revealed a Cy-sensitive CD4+Foxp3+CD25low tumor-seeking migratory phenotype, characteristic of effector/memory Tregs, and capable of high avidity T cell suppression.Conclusion/SignificanceDepletion of CD25low Tregs allows activation of tumor-clearing high avidity T cells. Thus, the development of agents that specifically deplete Treg subsets should translate into more effective immunotherapies while avoiding autoimmunity.