The Role of Neutrophils in Oncolytic Orf Virus-Mediated Cancer Immunotherapy

Neutrophils are innate leukocytes with diverse effector functions that allow them to respond to pathogens rapidly. Accumulating evidence has highlighted these cells’ complex roles in the host’s response to viral infections and tumor progression. Oncolytic virotherapy is emerging as a promising treatment modality in the armamentarium of cancer therapeutics. Oncolytic viruses preferentially kill cancer cells and stimulate tumor-associated inflammation, resulting in tumor regression. Assessing the activity of individual effector cell subsets following oncolytic virotherapy is important in identifying their contribution to antitumor immunity. In this study, we investigated the role of neutrophils in oncolytic Orf-virus-mediated immunotherapy in a murine model of pulmonary melanoma metastases. The systemic administration of the Orf virus stimulated a dramatic increase in the number of leukocytes in circulation and within the tumor microenvironment, most of which were neutrophils. Analysis of tumor-burdened lungs shortly after therapy revealed significant numbers of phenotypically immature neutrophils, with the enhanced expression of molecules affiliated with activation, migration, and cytotoxicity. Neutrophils stimulated by Orf virus therapy were directly tumoricidal through tumor necrosis factor-α-mediated effects and were required for optimal antitumor efficacy following Orf virus therapy. Taken together, these data reveal neutrophils as a crucial innate effector to consider when investigating oncolytic virotherapy.