B cells sustain inflammation and predict response to immune checkpoint blockade in human melanoma.

ABSTRACT: Tumor associated inflammation predicts response to immune checkpoint blockade in human melanoma. Current theories on regulation of inflammation center on anti-tumor T cell responses. Here we show that tumor associated B cells are vital to melanoma associated inflammation. Human B cells express pro- and anti-inflammatory factors and differentiate into plasmablast-like cells when exposed to autologous melanoma secretomes in vitro. This plasmablast-like phenotype can be reconciled in human melanomas where plasmablast-like cells also express T cell-recruiting chemokines CCL3, CCL4, CCL5. Depletion of B cells in melanoma patients by anti-CD20 immunotherapy decreases tumor associated inflammation and CD8⁺ T cell numbers. Plasmablast-like cells also increase PD-1⁺ T cell act

SUBMITTER: Griss J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6744450 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature