Anti-JAM-C therapy eliminates tumor engraftment in a xenograft model of mantle cell lymphoma.

Junctional adhesion molecule (JAM)-C is a member of the JAM family, expressed by a variety of different cell types, including human B lymphocytes and some B-cell lymphoma subtypes-in particular, mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Treatment with anti-JAM-C pAbs reduces homing of human B cells to lymphoid organs in a NOD/SCID mouse model. In the present study, the role of JAM-C in the engraftment of human lymphoma B cells in mice was investigated. Administration of novel anti-JAM-C mAbs reduced tumor growth of JAM-C+ MCL cells in bone marrow, spleen, liver, and lymph nodes of mice. Treatment with anti-JAM-C antibodies significantly reduced the proliferation of JAM-C-expressing lymphoma B cells. Moreover, the binding of anti-JAM-C antibodies inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, without affecting other signaling pathways. The results identify for the first time the intracellular MAPK cascade as the JAM-C-driven signaling pathway in JAM-C+ B cells. Targeting JAM-C could constitute a new therapeutic strategy reducing lymphoma B-cell proliferation and their capacity to reach supportive lymphoid microenvironments.