Mature B Cells Are Critical to T-cell-mediated Tumor Immunity Induced by an Agonist Anti-GITR Monoclonal Antibody

An agonistic antibody DTA-1, to glucocorticoid-induced TNFR-related protein (GITR), induces T-cell activation and antitumor immunity. CD4(+) effector T cells are essential in initiating GITR-induced immune activation, and the sequentially activated cytolytic CD8(+) T cells are sufficient to induce tumor rejection. Administration of DTA-1 to a tumor-bearing mouse also induces B-cell activation illustrated by CD69 expression. Substantial evidence suggests that resting B cells are tumor promoting, which has prompted the idea of B-cell depletion by Rituximab, to be combined with other agents in the clinic to augment antitumor response. In this study, we have found that mature B cells are needed for the mechanism of anti-GITR agonist to kill tumors. The treatment of GITR agonist induces profound B-cell activation, differentiation, and antibody production. In a mature B-cell-deficient mouse (JHD), DTA-1 fails to induce tumor regression with a reduced early activation of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. B-cell deficiency disables the capability of the DTA-1 in generating cytolytic CD8(+) T cells and significantly reduces the cytokine production in tumor bearing mice. The tumor-killing activities of DTA-1 are still present albeit reduced in the CD40(-/-) mice, in which IgG production is impaired. We have also shown that the dependence on B cells to kill tumors differentiates GITR costimulation from CTLA4 blockade and OX40 agonism in tumor immunotherapy. The findings underscore the reciprocal T-cell-B-cell interaction to enhance antitumor immunity upon GITR costimulation. The results provide the insight that attenuating B-cell functions may not be beneficial in cancer immunotherapy based on GITR agonism.