Cited by 122Cytokine Signaling Pathways and InteractionsImmunotherapy and Immune ResponsesImmune Response and Inflammation

Toll-like receptor 9 activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 constrains its agonist-based immunotherapy

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Kortylewski, Marcin, Kujawski, Maciej, Herrmann, Andreas, Yang, Chunmei, Wang, Lin, Liu, Yong, Salcedo, Rosalba, Yu, Hua·2009·Cancer Research

Published version of a preprint

Abstract

Although toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists, such as CpG, are used as immunotherapeutic agents in clinical trials for cancer and infectious diseases, their effects are limited and the underlying mechanism(s) that restrains CpG efficacy remains obscure. Here, we show that signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) plays a key role in down-modulating immunostimulatory effects of CpG. In the absence of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10 induction, CpG directly activates Stat3 within minutes through TLR9. Ablating Stat3 in hematopoietic cells results in rapid activation of innate immunity by CpG, with enhanced production of IFN-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-12, and activation of macrophages, neutrophils, and natural killer cells marked with Stat1 activation. Innate immune responses induced by CpG in mice with a Stat3-ablated hematopoietic system cause potent antitumor effects, leading to eradication of large (>1 cm) B16 melanoma tumors within 72 h. Moreover, ablating Stat3 in myeloid cells increases CpG-induced dendritic cell maturation, T-cell activation, generation of tumor antigen-specific T cells, and long-lasting antitumor immunity. A critical role of Stat3 in mediating immunosuppression by certain cytokines and growth factors in the tumor microenvironment has been recently documented. By demonstrating direct and rapid activation of Stat3 by TLR agonists, we identify a second level of Stat3-mediated immunosuppression. Our results further suggest that targeting Stat3 can drastically improve CpG-based immunotherapeutic approaches.

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Crossref · 10.1158/0008-5472.can-08-3031

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  • TLRs such as TLR2, TLR4, TLR7 and TLR9 activate STAT3.

    “In addition to NF-κB activation, TLRs such as TLR2, TLR4, TLR7 and TLR9 activate STAT3 (206, 325).”

    From IL-6 in inflammation, autoimmunity and cancer (2021) · cites this paper as [206]

    The Results section (‘Direct and rapid induction of Stat3 activity in DCs’; page unavailable) reports STAT3 activation by the TLR4 agonist LPS and by CpG, which the paper identifies as acting through TLR9. The passages do not establish that TLR2 or TLR7 activate STAT3, so this source supports only two of the four receptors listed. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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1 of the 34 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [29]Kujawski M Kortylewski M Lee H Herrmann A Kay H Yu H Stat3 mediates myeloid-cell-dependent tumor angiogenesis J Clin Invest 2008 118 3367 77 18776941 PMC2528912

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Authors
Kortylewski, M., Kujawski, M., Herrmann, A., Yang, C., Wang, L., Liu, Y., Salcedo, R., & Yu, H.
Affiliations
  • City Of Hope National Medical Center (US)
  • National Cancer Institute (US)
Venue
Cancer Research
Published
2009-03-15
Volume
69
Issue
6
Pages
2497-2505
ISSN
  • 0008-5472 (ISSN-L)
  • 1538-7445
OpenAlex
W2137285200
Cited by
122
References
34
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 9
FWCI
5.83
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cancer Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Cancer Institute (R01CA122976)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cytokine Signaling Pathways and Interactions
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immune Response and Inflammation
Keywords
TLR9, STAT3, CpG oligodeoxynucleotides, immunosuppression, innate immunity, dendritic cell maturation, antitumor immunity, melanoma, myeloid cells, tumor microenvironment, cytokines
MeSH terms
Animals, Dendritic Cells, Immunotherapy, Male, Melanoma, Experimental, Mice, Inbred C3H, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Cytokines, Th1 Cells, CpG Islands, Chemokines, STAT3 Transcription Factor, Toll-Like Receptor 9, Mice

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