Lack of Effector Cell Function and Altered Tetramer Binding of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes

Abstract Tumor-specific CD8 T cell responses to MCA102 fibrosarcoma cells expressing the cytotoxic T cell epitope gp33 from lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus were studied. MCA102gp33 tumors grew progressively in C57BL/6 mice, despite induction of peripheral gp33-tetramer+ T cells that were capable of mediating antiviral protection, specific cell rejection, and concomitant tumor immunity. MCA102gp33 tumors were infiltrated with a high number (∼20%) of CD11b+CD11c− macrophage-phenotype cells that were able to cross-present the gp33 epitope to T cells. Tumor-infiltrating CD8 T cells exhibited a highly activated phenotype but lacked effector cell function. Strikingly, a significant portion of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes expressed TCRs specific for gp33 but bound MHC tetramers only after cell purification and a 24-h resting period in vitro. The phenomenon of “tetramer-negative T cells” was not restricted to tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes from MCA102gp33 tumors, but was also observed when Ag-specific T cells derived from an environment with high Ag load were analyzed ex vivo. Thus, using a novel tumor model, allowing us to trace tumor-specific T cells at the single cell level in vivo, we demonstrate that the tumor microenvironment is able to alter the functional activity of T cells infiltrating the tumor mass.