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Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is an aggressive malignancy characterized by a paucity of tumor-proximal CD8+ T cells and resistance to immunotherapeutic interventions. Cancer-associated mechanisms that elicit CD8+ T-cell exclusion and resistance to immunotherapy are not well-known. Here, using a Kras- and p53-driven model of PDA, we describe a mechanism of action for the protumorigenic cytokine IL35 through STAT3 activation in CD8+ T cells. Distinct from its action on CD4+ T cells, IL35 signaling in gp130+CD8+ T cells activated the transcription factor STAT3, which antagonized intratumoral infiltration and effector function of CD8+ T cells via suppression of CXCR3, CCR5, and IFNγ expression. Inhibition of STAT3 signaling in tumor-educated CD8+ T cells improved PDA growth control upon adoptive transfer to tumor-bearing mice. We showed that activation of STAT3 in CD8+ T cells was driven by B cell– but not regulatory T cell–specific production of IL35. We also demonstrated that B cell–specific deletion of IL35 facilitated CD8+ T-cell activation independently of effector or regulatory CD4+ T cells and was sufficient to phenocopy therapeutic anti-IL35 blockade in overcoming resistance to anti–PD-1 immunotherapy. Finally, we identified a circulating IL35+ B-cell subset in patients with PDA and demonstrated that the presence of IL35+ cells predicted increased occurrence of phosphorylated (p)Stat3+CXCR3−CD8+ T cells in tumors and inversely correlated with a cytotoxic T-cell signature in patients. Together, these data identified B cell–mediated IL35/gp130/STAT3 signaling as an important direct link to CD8+ T-cell exclusion and immunotherapy resistance in PDA.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is an aggressive malignancy characterized by paucity of tumor-proximal CD8(+) T cells and resistance to immunotherapeutic interventions. Cancer-associated mechanisms that elicit CD8(+) T-cell exclusion and resistance to immunotherapy are not well known. Here, using a Kras- and p53-driven model of PDA, we describe a mechanism of action for the pro-tumorigenic cytokine IL35 through STAT3 activation in CD8(+) T cells. Distinct from its action on CD4(+) T cells, IL35 signaling in gp130(+)CD8(+) T cells activated the transcription factor STAT3, which antagonized intratumoral infiltration and effector function of CD8(+) T cells via suppression of CXCR3, CCR5, and IFNγ expression. Inhibition of STAT3 signaling in tumor-educated CD8(+) T cells improved PDA growth control upon adoptive transfer to tumor-bearing mice. We showed that activation of STAT3 in CD8(+) T cells was driven by B cell– but not Treg-specific production of IL35. We also demonstrated that B cell–specific deletion of IL35 facilitated CD8(+) T-cell activation independently of effector or regulatory CD4(+) T cells and was sufficient to phenocopy therapeutic anti-IL35 blockade in overcoming resistance to anti–PD-1 immunotherapy. Finally, we identified a circulating IL35(+) B-cell subset in patients with PDA and demonstrated that presence of IL35(+) cells predicted increased occurrence of phosphorylated (p)Stat3(+)CXCR3(–)CD8(+) T cells in tumors and inversely correlated with a cytotoxic T-cell signature in patients. Together, these data identified B cell–mediated IL35/gp130/STAT3 signaling as an important direct link to CD8(+) T-cell exclusion and immunotherapy resistance in PDA.