CD4⁺ T cells impair tumor growth through IL-3 and TNF-dependent vascular damage.

Abstract

Most cancer immunotherapy strategies are focused on direct tumor killing by immune cells, especially T lymphocytes. Clinical and conceptual limitations of these approaches create a need for additional strategies. We identified a tumor stroma-targeting mechanism in which tumor antigen-specific CD4⁺ T cells inhibit tumor growth through myeloid cell and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-dependent vascular damage. Multiplex immunofluorescence and single-cell and tissue transcriptomics showed that CD4⁺ T cells trigger the formation of perivascular myeloid cell clusters containing "classically activated" macrophages that produce TNF in response to T cell-derived interleukin-3. TNF causes intratumoral endothelial damage and blood supply disruption, which are associated with localized tumor cell death. Thus, intratumoral antigen-triggered T cell activation can mediate antitumor effects without direct recognition of living tumor cells, thereby avoiding many of the inhibitory mechanisms that limit anti-tumor immunity.