Programmed Death-1 (PD-1) is a co-inhibitory receptor that down-regulates the activity of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in cancer and of virus-specific T cells in chronic infection. The molecular mechanisms driving high PD-1 expression on TIL have not been fully investigated. We demonstrate that transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) directly enhances antigen-induced PD-1 expression through Smad3-dependent, Smad2-independent transcriptional activation in T cells in vitro and in TIL in vivo. The PD-1hi subset seen in CD8+ TIL is absent in Smad3-deficient tumor-specific CD8+ TIL, resulting in enhanced cytokine production by TIL and in draining lymph nodes and of anti-tumor activity. In addition to TGF-β1’s previously known effects on T cell function, our findings suggest that TGF-β1 mediates T cell suppression via PD-1 upregulation in the TME. They highlight bidirectional crosstalk between effector TIL and TGF-β-producing cells that upregulates multiple components of the PD-1 signaling pathway to inhibit anti-tumor immunity.

Carcinoma‐associated mesenchymal stem cells (CA‐MSCs) are critical stromal progenitor cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME). We previously demonstrated that CA‐MSCs differentially express bone morphogenetic protein family members, promote tumor cell growth, increase cancer “stemness,” and chemotherapy resistance. Here, we use RNA sequencing of normal omental MSCs and ovarian CA‐MSCs to demonstrate global changes in CA‐MSC gene expression. Using these expression profiles, we create a unique predictive algorithm to classify CA‐MSCs. Our classifier accurately distinguishes normal omental, ovary, and bone marrow MSCs from ovarian cancer CA‐MSCs. Suggesting broad applicability, the model correctly classifies pancreatic and endometrial cancer CA‐MSCs and distinguishes cancer associated fibroblasts from CA‐MSCs. Using this classifier, we definitively demonstrate ovarian CA‐MSCs arise from tumor mediated reprograming of local tissue MSCs. Although cancer cells alone cannot induce a CA‐MSC phenotype, the in vivo ovarian TME can reprogram omental or ovary MSCs to protumorigenic CA‐MSCs (classifier score of >0.96). In vitro studies suggest that both tumor secreted factors and hypoxia are critical to induce the CA‐MSC phenotype. Interestingly, although the breast cancer TME can reprogram bone marrow MSCs into CA‐MSCs, the ovarian TME cannot, demonstrating for the first time that tumor mediated CA‐MSC conversion is tissue and cancer type dependent. Together these findings (a) provide a critical tool to define CA‐MSCs and (b) highlight cancer cell influence on distinct normal tissues providing powerful insights into the mechanisms underlying cancer specific metastatic niche formation. S tem C ells 2019;37:257–269

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The procurement of capital is an important consideration for an entity transforming from an entrepreneurial idea to a revenue generating company. Angel financing is one of the most common, but least studied methods, to finance new ventures. The term “Angel Investor” generally refers to a high net‐worth individual who typically invests in small, private firms on his or her own account. Using a unique dataset of firms financed by angels between 1994 and 2001, our research provides some insight into the role of angels in funding, monitoring and guiding their investments. Although exposed to greater uncertainty by investing earlier in the life of a firm compared to venture capital investors, angel investors do not rely on traditional control mechanisms such as board control, staging, or contractual provisions to protect against expropriation. Angels may use more informal methods of control such as investing in close geographic proximity and syndicating investments with other angels to mitigate risks. The results of the study indicate that angels have a complementary role to venture capital in the financing of new ventures. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.