Dying cells initiate adaptive immunity by providing both antigens and inflammatory stimuli for dendritic cells (DCs), which in turn activate CD8+ T cells through a process called antigen cross-priming. To define how different forms of programmed cell death influence immunity, we established models of necroptosis and apoptosis, where dying cells are generated by RIPK3 and CASP8 dimerization, respectively. We found that release of inflammatory mediators such as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) by dying cells was not sufficient for CD8+ T cell cross-priming. Instead, robust cross-priming required RIPK1 signaling and NF-κB-induced transcription within dying cells. Decoupling NF-κB signaling from necroptosis or inflammatory apoptosis reduced priming efficiency and tumor immunity. Our results reveal that coordinated inflammatory and cell death signaling pathways within dying cells orchestrate adaptive immunity.

The success of antitumor immune responses depends on the infiltration of solid tumors by effector T cells, a process guided by chemokines. Here we show that in vivo post-translational processing of chemokines by dipeptidylpeptidase 4 (DPP4, also known as CD26) limits lymphocyte migration to sites of inflammation and tumors. Inhibition of DPP4 enzymatic activity enhanced tumor rejection by preserving biologically active CXCL10 and increasing trafficking into the tumor by lymphocytes expressing the counter-receptor CXCR3. Furthermore, DPP4 inhibition improved adjuvant-based immunotherapy, adoptive T cell transfer and checkpoint blockade. These findings provide direct in vivo evidence for control of lymphocyte trafficking via CXCL10 cleavage and support the use of DPP4 inhibitors for stabilizing biologically active forms of chemokines as a strategy to enhance tumor immunotherapy.

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