Antigen-presenting cancer-associated fibroblasts in murine pancreatic tumors differentially regulate T-cell phenotype and function

Abstract

Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) in which cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play pivotal roles in shaping therapeutic responses. Among these, MHC-II–expressing antigen-presenting CAFs (apCAFs) modulate CD4 T-cell activity, yet their contribution to the antitumor immune response remains unclear. Using tumor clones of the KPC murine PDAC model differing in sensitivity to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), we show that immunosensitive (sKPC) tumors exhibit greater apCAF infiltration than resistant (rKPC) tumors. Reducing apCAF numbers in sKPC tumors impaired responsiveness to ICB, highlighting apCAFs’ role in mediating effective antitumor immunity. Ex vivo assays revealed that apCAFs from both models activate CD4 T cells and induce regulatory T-cell (Treg) differentiation. However, single-cell transcriptomics revealed that rKPC apCAFs promote Tregs with heightened immunosuppressive signatures, driven by distinct chemokine signaling. We identified elevated CCL22 expression and signaling in rKPC-derived apCAFs as a contributor to enhanced Treg-mediated suppression. Functional blockade of CCL22 reduced TGF-β secretion by rKPC apCAF-induced Tregs, supporting a mechanistic role for this pathway in fostering an immunosuppressive TME. These findings position apCAFs as regulators of CD4 T-cell antitumor immunity in PDAC and suggest that modulating apCAF–T-cell interactions could offer strategies to enhance immunotherapy efficacy.