Lin(−)CCR2(+) hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells overcome resistance to PD-1 blockade

Immune checkpoint blockade using anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodies has shown considerable promise in the treatment of solid tumors, but brain tumors remain notoriously refractory to treatment. In CNS malignancies that are completely resistant to PD-1 blockade, we found that bone marrow-derived, lineage-negative hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSCs) that express C–C chemokine receptor type 2 (CCR2(+)) reverses treatment resistance and sensitizes mice to curative immunotherapy. HSC transfer with PD-1 blockade increases T-cell frequency and activation within tumors in preclinical models of glioblastoma and medulloblastoma. CCR2(+)HSCs preferentially migrate to intracranial brain tumors and differentiate into antigen-presenting cells within the tumor microenvironment and cross-present tumor-derived antigens to CD8(+) T cells. HSC transfer also rescues tumor resistance to adoptive cellular therapy in medulloblastoma and glioblastoma. Our studies demonstrate a novel role for CCR2(+)HSCs in overcoming brain tumor resistance to PD-1 checkpoint blockade and adoptive cellular therapy in multiple invasive brain tumor models.