B Cells Promote Tumor Immunity against B16F10 Melanoma

B cells are known to be critical mediators of tumor immunity; however, the mechanisms through which they exert this function remain unclear. B-cell linker protein (BLNK) is an essential component of the B-cell antigen receptor signaling machinery and is required for B-cell development, as evidenced by BLNK-deficient (BLNK-/-) mice, in which the development and function of B cells are severely impaired. Herein, we evaluated the role of B cells in the development of tumor immunity against B16F10 melanoma using BLNK-/- mice. B16F10 melanoma grew more aggressively in BLNK-/- mice, resulting in a twofold increase in tumor volume compared with wild-type mice. As predicted, tumor-infiltrating B-cell numbers were decreased in BLNK-/- mice. Paradoxically, tumor-infiltrating 1-cell numbers were decreased in BLNK-/- mice, although inguinal lymph node 1-cell numbers were increased. Adoptive transfer of B cells from wild-type mice into BLNK-/- mice attenuated B16F10 melanoma growth, with increasing numbers of B and T cells infiltrating into tumors. In addition, percentages of interferon-gamma-and tumor necrosis factor-alpha producing tumor-infiltrating T cells were restored. Taken together, our study supports the concept that B cells enhance tumor immunity against B16F10 melanoma by promoting 1-cell infiltration into tumors and cytokine production within the tumor microenvironment.