A Functional GM-CSF Receptor on Dendritic Cells Is Required for Efficient Protective Anti-Tumor Immunity

Dendritic cells (DC) play a major role during the priming phase of anti-tumor immunization, as they are required for an efficient tumor-associated antigens presentation. At least one dendritic cell-based therapy has already been successfully approved by regulators for clinical application in prostate cancer patients. Moreover, DC development is dependent on the granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), a cytokine that has been successfully used as a potent inducer of anti-tumoral immunity. To better understand the relation between DC and GM-CSF in anti-tumor immunity, we studied the DC function in mice lacking the cytokine receptor common subunit beta (βc-/-) for GM-CSF, IL-3 and IL-5 and immunized with irradiated tumor cells. Such immunization induces a protective, specific tumor immunization in wild-type mice, while βc-/- mice failed to mount an immune response. Upon in vitro stimulation, DC from βc-/- mice (DCβc-/-) are unable to undergo a full maturation level. In vivo experiments show that they lack the ability to prevent tumor growth, in contrast to DCWT. Moreover, matured DCWT rescued immunization in βc-/- mice. DC maturation is dependent on a functional pathway involving GM-CSF signaling through a biologically functional receptor. These findings may contribute to new strategies for efficient anti-tumor immunotherapies.