Abstract Although type I IFNs play critical roles in antiviral and antitumor activity, it remains to be elucidated how type I IFNs are produced in sterile conditions of the tumor microenvironment and directly affect tumor-infiltrating immune cells. Mouse de novo gliomas show increased expression of type I IFN messages, and in mice, CD11b+ brain-infiltrating leukocytes (BIL) are the main source of type I IFNs that are induced partially in a STING (stimulator of IFN genes)-dependent manner. Consequently, glioma-bearing StingGt/Gt mice showed shorter survival and lower expression levels of Ifns compared with wild-type mice. Furthermore, BILs of StingGt/Gt mice showed increased CD11b+ Gr-1+ immature myeloid suppressor and CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) and decreased IFNγ-producing CD8+ T cells. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells that received direct type I IFN signals showed lesser degrees of regulatory activity and increased levels of antitumor activity, respectively. Finally, intratumoral administration of a STING agonist (cyclic diguanylate monophosphate; c-di-GMP) improved the survival of glioma-bearing mice associated with enhanced type I IFN signaling, Cxcl10 and Ccl5, and T-cell migration into the brain. In combination with subcutaneous OVA peptide vaccination, c-di-GMP increased OVA-specific cytotoxicity of BILs and prolonged their survival. These data demonstrate significant contributions of STING to antitumor immunity via enhancement of type I IFN signaling in the tumor microenvironment and suggest a potential use of STING agonists for the development of effective immunotherapy, such as the combination with antigen-specific vaccinations. Cancer Immunol Res; 2(12); 1199–208. ©2014 AACR.

STING Contributes to Antiglioma Immunity via Triggering Type I IFN Signals in the Tumor Microenvironment