CD103⁺ cDC1 vaccine efficacy in murine breast cancer is inhibited by STAT3

Conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) are a crucial immune population, which includes multiple subtypes that coordinate adaptive immunity and tolerance. Migratory type 1 cDC1s (CD103⁺ cDC1s in mice) are required to induce CD8⁺ T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity, yet whether and how tumors regulate CD103⁺ cDC1 function is largely unknown. Many tumor-associated immunosuppressive cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-10, require Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) for intracellular signaling; therefore, we sought to determine whether STAT3 inhibits CD103⁺ cDC1-mediated anti-tumor immunity. Indeed, we found that in vitro-derived STAT3-deficient (Stat3^Δ/Δ) CD103⁺ cDC1sare resistant to IL-10 – mediated inhibition of Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3)-agonist induced maturation. When used as an anti-tumor vaccine, Stat3^Δ/Δ CD103⁺ cDC1s inhibited breast tumor growth and increased mouse survival to a greater degree than STAT3-sufficient CD103⁺ cDC1s. Vaccination with Stat3^Δ/Δ CD103⁺ cDC1s increased tumor antigen-specific CD8⁺ T cells and IFN-g⁺ CD4⁺ T cells in tumors and tumor-draining lymph nodes compared to controls. Moreover, IL-10 receptor-deficient CD103⁺ cDC1s restrained tumor growth as effectively as Stat3^Δ/Δ CD103⁺ cDC1s. Taken together, our results demonstrate STAT3 suppresses CD103⁺ cDC1 maturation and vaccine efficacy in breast cancer. The data also suggest IL-10 is an important factor in the murine mammary tumor environment mediating immunosuppressive STAT3 signaling in CD103⁺ cDC1s. Thus, STAT3 inhibition may provide an effective strategy for improving the anti-tumor efficacy of CD103⁺ cDC1-based vaccines.