IL-12 induces T helper 1-directed antitumor response

Although IL-12 possesses the most potent single-cytokine antitumor efficacy, the mechanism by which IL-12 exerts its antitumor activities remains unclear. Using a complete tumor regression model induced by IL-12 treatment, we demonstrate that the antitumor response induced by IL-12 is mediated by a Th1 cell-directed process, with the macrophage as the effector cell and nitric oxide produced by the activated macrophage as the effector molecule. The induction of the Th1 response by IL-12 depends on the existence of a host T cell response to the tumor before IL-12 administration. IL-12 treatment causes the complete regression of 10-day established s.c. tumors (4-8 mm). Associated with the induction of tumor necrosis, activated macrophages expressing high levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase were found surrounding the tumor. The importance of nitric oxide as the effector molecule was further confirmed by the delay and loss of tumor regression in the presence of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor in vivo. Examination of tumor-associated T cells indicates that IL-12 induces production of the Th1 cytokine IFN-gamma and suppresses production of IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10 at the tumor site, where these are found to be the predominant cytokines produced by tumor-associated T cells before IL-12 treatment. These findings demonstrate that IL-12 plays an essential role in the induction of an effective Th1 type of cell-mediated immune response against established tumors.