Induction of tolerogenic dendritic cells by IL-6-secreting CT26 colon carcinoma.

One scenario by which tumors escape immune recognition is the constitutive activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). This transcription factor mediates the production of tumor-derived factors that negatively influence target immune cells, such as dendritic cells, and polarize them toward immune-tolerance also through the induction of STAT3 activation. In the current study, the effect of p-STAT3-positive murine colon carcinoma cell line (CT26) on bone marrow-derived DCs was examined. The results showed a remarkable increase in p-STAT3 in dendritic cells (DCs) only after CT26-CM incubation. The induction of p-STAT3 in CT26-CM exposed DCs was attributed at least in part to the high levels of interleukin-6 secreted by CT26 in culture. This was also accompanied by a significant reduction in the response to the immunostimulatory adjuvant lipopolysaccharide by lowering the expression of co-stimulatory molecules CD86 and CD40. Taken together, the results suggest an inhibitory effect of CT26 colon carcinoma on DC maturation through induction of STAT3 phosphorylation. Therefore, tumor-induced p-STAT3 in DCs can be seen as a promising target for colon cancer immunotherapy.