Gap junction communication between autologous endothelial and tumor cells induce cross-recognition and elimination by specific CTL

Houssem Benlalam, Abdelali Jalil, Meriem Hasmim, Baoxu Pang, Ryad Tamouza, Michèle Mitterrand, Yann Godet, Nathalie Lamerant, Caroline Robert, Marie Françoise Avril, Jacques Neefjes, Thomas Tursz, Fathia Mami-Chouaib, Claudine Kieda, Salem Chouaib*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

31 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Cellular interactions in the tumor stroma play a major role in cancer progression but can also induce tumor rejection. To explore the role of endothelial cells in these interactions, we used an in vitro three-dimensional collagen matrix model containing a cytotoxic T lymphocyte CTL clone (M4.48), autologous tumor cells (M4T), and an endothelial cell (M4E) line that are all derived from the same tumor. We demonstrate in this study that specific killing of the endothelial cells by the CTL clone required the autologous tumor cells and involved Ag cross-presentation. The formation of gap junctions between endothelial and tumor cells is required for antigenic peptide transfer to endothelial cells that are then recognized and eliminated by CTL. Our results indicate that gap junctions facilitate an effective CTL-mediated destruction of endothelial cells from the tumor microenvironment that may contribute to the control of tumor progression.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2654-2664
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Immunology
Volume182
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2009
Externally publishedYes

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