IL-33 activates antitumoral toxicity in eosinophils through stimulation of contact-dependent degranulation

Abstract The alarmin IL-33 plays pleiotropic roles in allergy, autoimmunity and inflammation through binding to its specific receptor ST2 expressed by most hematopoietic cells. Emerging evidences suggest an involvement of this cytokine also in cancer immunity, although its function remains ill-defined. Eosinophils (EOS) are a rare blood population playing critical roles in allergic inflammation and parasitic responses. We recently showed that EOS play an essential role in anti-tumor responses against melanoma growth and pulmonary metastasis mediated by IL-33 in vivo.In the present study we analyzed the mechanisms by which IL-33 mediates tumor infiltration and antitumoral activities of EOS. We show that IL-33 indirectly stimulates the recruitment of EOS inducing tumor-derived chemokines CCL24 and CCL5. Furthermore, IL-33 directly activates EOS inducing the expression of adhesion molecules, such as the integrin CD11b, resulting in efficient contact-dependent tumor cell killing. In co-culture experiments, IL-33 activated EOS tightly bond to tumor cells, forming increased numbers of conjugates, with respect to resting eosinophils. Confocal laser-scanning microscopy (CLSM) of eosinophil-tumor cell conjugates revealed polarization of the pore-forming eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) and of CD11b on the cell synapses exclusively in IL-33-activated, but not resting, EOS. Furthermore, we show that IL-33 activated EOS release larger amounts of extracellular vesicles (EV) with respect to resting EOS. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed increased degranulation and EV release of IL-33-activated EOS following cell contact with target tumor cells. Our results advocate for an eosinophil-mediated tumoricidal function promoted by IL-33, thus opening perspectives for novel cancer immunotherapy strategies. Citation Format: Fabrizio Mattei, Carla Buccione, Sara Andreone, Francesca Spadaro, Adele De Ninno, Jacopo Mancini, Cristiana Zanetti, Isabella Parolini, Francesca Iosi, Antonella Tinari, Valeria Lucarini, Annamaria Gerardino, Giovanna Ziccheddu, Luca Businaro, Claudia Afferni, Giovanna Schiavoni. IL-33 activates antitumoral toxicity in eosinophils through stimulation of contact-dependent degranulation [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fourth CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; Sept 30-Oct 3, 2018; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2019;7(2 Suppl):Abstract nr A091.