Interleukin-10 counteracts T-helper type 1 responses in B-cell lymphoma and is a target for tumor immunotherapy

To establish strategies for immunotherapy of B-cell lymphoma, it is mandatory to gain deeper insights into the mechanisms of tumor immune escape. In a mouse model of endogenously arising lymphoma, we investigated the impact of IL-10 on the regulation of antitumor responses. Despite progressive functional impairment of NK cells and lack of IFN-γ in the tumor milieu, we found an augmented fraction of T helper type 1 (Th1) cells, which continued to express IFN-γ but also upregulated IL-10 during disease development. Using a lymphoma microenvironment in vitro, we showed that Th1 cells were converted to Foxp3-negative T regulatory type 1 (Tr1) cells, which coexpressed IFN-γ and IL-10 and upregulated PD-1. This differentiation required pre-existing IL-10, which was primarily provided by malignant B cells and dendritic cells. IFN-γ only declined in cells with the uppermost PD-1 levels. Importantly, antibody-mediated IL-10 ablation in vivo improved effector cell functions and significantly suppressed tumor development. While the contribution of IL-10 to cancer immune escape has been controversially discussed in the past, we show that IL-10 suppresses ongoing, potentially protective immune responses in lymphoma and might be a target for immunotherapy. •Th1 cells in a lymphoma microenvironment are converted to Tr1 cells.•Tr1 cells in lymphoma coexpress IFN-γ and IL-10 and upregulate PD-1.•IL-10 drives Tr1 induction and PD-1 upregulation.•IL-10 neutralization can be used for targeted therapy of lymphoma.