Work

IL-33/regulatory T cell axis triggers the development of a tumor-promoting immune environment in chronic inflammation

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: Significance Chronic inflammatory diseases are well-recognized causes of cancer and account for up to 20% of all cancer deaths worldwide. However, the mechanism that initiates the development of a tumor-promoting immune environment in chronic inflammation is not known. Using mouse models of chronic skin and colon inflammation and human samples, we show IL-33 triggers the transition from tumor-suppressive immunity to chronic, tumor-promoting inflammation through a regulatory T cell-dependent mechanism. Our findings demonstrate a generalized dependency of tumor-promoting immune environments on the IL-33/Treg axis both in the skin and colon. Based on these findings, IL-33/Treg axis blockade may be an attractive therapeutic strategy for the treatment and prevention of cancers associated with chronic inflammatory diseases and potentiating the antitumor immunity induced by cancer immunotherapeutics.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1815016116