{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Toxoplasma gondii infection supports the infiltration of T cells into brain tumors.
{Author}: Nguyen YTM;Sibley L;Przanowski P;Zhao XY;Kovacs M;Wang S;Jones MK;Cowan M;Liu W;Merchak AR;Gaultier A;Janes K;Zang C;Harris T;Ewald SE;Zong H;
{Journal}: J Neuroimmunol
{Volume}: 393
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: 2024 Aug 15
{Factor}: 3.221
{DOI}: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2024.578402
{Abstract}: Few T cells infiltrate into primary brain tumors, fundamentally hampering the effectiveness of immunotherapy. We hypothesized that Toxoplasma gondii, a microorganism that naturally elicits a Th1 response in the brain, can promote T cell infiltration into brain tumors despite their immune suppressive microenvironment. Using a mouse genetic model for medulloblastoma, we found that T. gondii infection induced the infiltration of activatable T cells into the tumor mass and led to myeloid cell reprogramming toward a T cell-supportive state, without causing severe health issues in mice. The study provides a concrete foundation for future studies to take advantage of the immune modulatory capacity of T. gondii to facilitate brain tumor immunotherapy.