Heterodimeric IL-15 promotes tumor control through the regulation of the balance of effector and regulatory cells via an IL-2 deprivation mechanism — ASN Events

Heterodimeric IL-15 promotes tumor control through the regulation of the balance of effector and regulatory cells via an IL-2 deprivation mechanism (#8)

Cristina Bergamaschi 1 , Sin-Man Ng 1 , Stephanie Chen 1 , Jenifer Bear 1 , Candido Alicea 1 , Rachel K. Beach 1 , Raymond Sowder 2 , Elena Chertova 2 , Barbara K. Felber 1 , George N. Pavlakis 1
  1. Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD, United States
  2. Retroviral Protein Chemistry Core, AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA

Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a common γ-chain cytokine that plays a significant role in the activation and proliferation of T and NK cells and holds great potential in fighting infection and cancer. We have previously shown that bioactive IL-15 in vivo comprises a complex of the IL-15 chain with the soluble or cell-associated IL-15 receptor alpha chain that are together termed heterodimeric IL-15 (hetIL-15). HetIL-15 produced from engineered human cell lines showed favorable pharmacokinetics and bioactivity compared to monomeric IL-15 in both mice and macaques. We investigated the anti-tumor efficacy of hetIL-15, using the MC38 colon carcinoma mouse model. hetIL-15 resulted in a significant delay in tumor growth, when administered intraperitoneally every 2 days for 2 weeks. In addition, intratumoral delivery of hetIL-15 induced regression of established tumors and cured 50% of mice. Tumor-free mice were resistant to tumor challenge, demonstrating the development of specific anti-tumor immune responses. We further dissected the mechanism leading to tumor control in hetIL-15-treated mice, discovering a new interplay between IL-15 and the cognate cytokine interleukin-2 (IL-2). Repeated injections of hetIL-15 resulted in an increased CD8+/Treg cells ratio in spleen, lymph nodes and tumor microenvironment. Interestingly, hetIL-15 induced a transient accumulation of CD8+ T cells expressing the high affinity IL-2 receptor CD25, that compete with CD25+Treg for the available IL-2. In addition, IL-15 decreased the frequency of IL-2-producing CD4+ T cells, while increasing their ability to secrete IFNγ. These data suggest that hetIL-15 treatment limits Treg fitness through a concerted action of both CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, that results in an IL-2 deprived environment. Preclinical cancer studies support the use of hetIL-15 in tumor immunotherapy approaches to promote the development of anti-tumor responses by favoring effector over regulatory cells.