CIITA-driven MHC class ii expressing tumor cells can efficiently prime naive CD4+ TH cells in vivo and vaccinate the host against parental MHC-II-negative tumor cells

Our previous studies showed that non-immunogenic H-2d tumor cells of distinct epithelial histotypes can become highly immunogenic, induce a protective CD4+ T cell response and vaccinate the animals against parental MHC-II-negative cells if they are rendered MHC class II-positive by stable transfection with the Air1-encoded MHC-II transcriptional activator CIITA. These studies did not establish, however, whether tumor immunity was the consequence of a direct priming of naive CD4+ T lymphocytes by CIITA-driven MHC-II-expressing tumor cells or by MHC-II-tumor antigen complexes engulfed by dendritic cells (DC) and exposed on the surface of these professional antigen presenting cells (APC). In the present investigation, we provide definitive evidence that CIITAtumor cells are the crucial APC in vivo for CD4+ T cell priming. By using a transgenic H-2b mouse model, the CD11c.DTR C57BL/6 mice, in which DC can be functionally deleted by administration of diphteria toxin, we show that CIITA-tumor cells of two distinct histotypes can be rejected or strongly retarded in their growth in DC-deleted mice. To rule out that in absence of DC, other professional APC could prime naive CD4+ T cells, we deleted the macrophages in CD11c.DTR C57BL/6 mice by administration of liposome Clodronate and still obtained rejection or strong retardation in tumor growth of CIITA-tumor cells. Our results challenge the diffuse belief that non-professional APC cannot efficiently prime naive T cells in vivo. Moreover, the demonstration of the general validity of our approach in different genetic backgrounds may open a way for new strategies of antitumor treatment in clinical settings.