Simultaneous STING and lymphotoxin-β receptor activation induces B cell responses in tertiary lymphoid structures to potentiate antitumor immunity

Abstract

B cell-rich tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) are associated with favorable prognosis and positive response to immunotherapy in cancer. Here we show that simultaneous activation of innate immune effectors, STING and lymphotoxin-β receptor (LTβR), results in CD8⁺ T cell-dependent tumor suppression while inducing high endothelial venule development and germinal center-like B cell responses in tumors to generate functional TLS in a T cell-dependent manner. In a neoadjuvant setting, activation of STING and LTβR by their agonists effectively immunized mice against tumor recurrence, leading to long-term survival. STING activation alone was insufficient for inducing B cell-containing TLS or eliciting long-term therapeutic effects. However, when combined with LTβR activation, it improved the fitness of TLS with B cell expansion and maturation to IgG-producing long-lived plasma cells and memory cells, increased CD4⁺ T cell recruitment and memory CD8⁺ T cell expansion, and shifted the T_H2/T_H17 balance, resulting in the potentiation of humoral and cellular immunity against tumors. These findings suggest a therapeutic approach of simultaneously activating STING and lymphotoxin pathways.