IL-10 from tumoral B cells modulates the diffuse large B-cell lymphoma microenvironment and response to immunotherapy

M Marcos Garcia-Lacarte (1Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain) S Sara C. Grijalba (1Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain) J Javier Melchor (3Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain) M Marién Pascual (3Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain) E Enrique Goñi I Iñigo Clemente-Larramendi (1Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain) S Sandra Morales-Sánchez (6Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Physiology, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain) M María A. Burrell (3Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain) O Oscar Blanco (7Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain) A Adrián Arnaiz-Leché (1Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain) B Blanca S. Berrozpe (1Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain) M Maria Amann (8Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland) C Christian Klein P Pablo Umaña (1Roche Innovation Center Zurich, Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Schlieren, Switzerland) M Miguel Canales (5Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Cáncer (CIBERONC), Pamplona, Spain) J José Ángel Martinez-Climent (2Hemato-Oncology Program, Center for Applied Medical Research, Cancer Center University of Navarra, Navarra Institute for Health Research, CIBERONC, Pamplona, Spain) J Juan J. Lasarte (2Cancer Center Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain) P Pablo Sarobe (2Cancer Center Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain) F Francisco J. Novo (1Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain) S Sergio Roa (2Centre for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), Hematology and Oncology Program, Pamplona, Spain)

Abstract

Abstract The contribution of interleukin-10 (IL-10), secreted by tumoral B cells, to the progression and shaping of the microenvironment in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with activated B-cell–like (ABC) phenotype is not yet completely understood. To shed light on this issue, we generated an immunocompetent mouse model of ABC-DLBCL with conditional knockout of IL-10 specifically in malignant B cells. Paradoxically, these mice had significantly worse overall survival when left untreated but experienced increased sensitivity to conventional anti-CD20 immunotherapy or regulatory T-cell depletion. We identified various immunomodulatory mechanisms involved in this behavior. In particular, we show that IL-10–deficient lymphomas acquire a highly immunosuppressed and T-cell–exhausted microenvironment with increased angiogenesis that results in a more aggressive phenotype, which is refractory to PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade. However, the response of IL-10–deficient mice to anti-CD20 immunotherapy was greatly enhanced by upregulation of calcium channels in B cells. In general, IL-10 autocrine signaling promotes the survival of malignant B cells, whereas the paracrine action of B-cell–derived IL-10 maintains an immunoreactive microenvironment that influences the efficacy of emerging immunotherapy strategies targeting the lymphoma microenvironment. Furthermore, IL-10–associated transcriptional signatures derived from our studies may correctly predict clinical outcomes of patients with DLBCL treated with R-CHOP (rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone). Thus, our work provides important functional and mechanistic insights into the role of B-cell–derived IL-10 in the biology of ABC-DLBCL.

Article Details

Journal Blood
Volume / Issue Vol. 145, Issue 23
Published June 05, 2025
Pages 2746-2761
ISSN 0006-4971
Publisher Elsevier BV

Journal Info

Blood

Elsevier BV

ISSN: 0006-4971 Health Sciences

Authors (20)

M

Marcos Garcia-Lacarte

1Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

S

Sara C. Grijalba

1Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

J

Javier Melchor

3Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain

M

Marién Pascual

3Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain

E

Enrique Goñi

I

Iñigo Clemente-Larramendi

1Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

S

Sandra Morales-Sánchez

6Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Physiology, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

M

María A. Burrell

3Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain

O

Oscar Blanco

7Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain

A

Adrián Arnaiz-Leché

1Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

B

Blanca S. Berrozpe

1Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

M

Maria Amann

8Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland

C

Christian Klein

P

Pablo Umaña

1Roche Innovation Center Zurich, Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Schlieren, Switzerland

M

Miguel Canales

5Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Cáncer (CIBERONC), Pamplona, Spain

J

José Ángel Martinez-Climent

2Hemato-Oncology Program, Center for Applied Medical Research, Cancer Center University of Navarra, Navarra Institute for Health Research, CIBERONC, Pamplona, Spain

J

Juan J. Lasarte

2Cancer Center Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

P

Pablo Sarobe

2Cancer Center Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

F

Francisco J. Novo

1Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

S

Sergio Roa

2Centre for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), Hematology and Oncology Program, Pamplona, Spain