Tim-3⁺ T-bet⁺ tumor-specific Th1 cells colocalize with and inhibit development and growth of murine neoplasms

Although T cells infiltrate many types of murine and human neoplasms, in many instances tumor-specific cytotoxicity is not observed. Strategies to stimulate CTL-mediated antitumor immunity have included in vitro stimulation and/or genetic engineering of T cells, followed by adoptive transfer into tumor-bearing hosts. In this model of B cell lymphoma in SJL/J mice, we used Tim-3⁺ T-bet⁺ Th1 cells to facilitate the development of tumor-specific CTL. Tumor-specific Th1 cell lines were polarized with IL-12 during in vitro stimulation and long term maintenance. As few as 5 million Tim-3⁺ T-bet⁺ Th1 cells enabled recipients to resist growth of malignant transplantable cells. In addition, similar numbers of Th1 cells injected into 2- to 3-mo-old mice inhibited development of the spontaneous primary lymphomas, which normally arise in 90% of aging mice. CFSE⁺ Th1 cells colocalized with injected tumor cells in vivo and formed conjugates with the tumor cells within follicles, whereas in nontumor-challenged recipients the CFSE⁺ Th1 cells localized only within the T cell zones of the spleen. These results provide evidence that adoptive immunotherapy with Tim-3⁺ T-bet⁺ tumor-specific Th1 cells can be used to induce host cytotoxic responses that inhibit the development and growth of neoplastic cells.