RESUMO
Signaling through Notch receptors intrinsically regulates tumor cell development and growth. Here, we studied the role of the Notch ligand Jagged2 on immune evasion in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Higher expression of JAG2 in NSCLC negatively correlated with survival. In NSCLC pre-clinical models, deletion of Jag2, but not Jag1, in cancer cells attenuated tumor growth and activated protective anti-tumor T cell responses. Jag2-/- lung tumors exhibited higher frequencies of macrophages that expressed immunostimulatory mediators and triggered T cell-dependent anti-tumor immunity. Mechanistically, Jag2 ablation promoted Nr4a-mediated induction of Notch ligands DLL1/4 on cancer cells. DLL1/4-initiated Notch1/2 signaling in macrophages induced the expression of transcription factor IRF4 and macrophage immunostimulatory functionality. IRF4 expression was required for the anti-tumor effects of Jag2 deletion in lung tumors. Antibody targeting of Jagged2 inhibited tumor growth and activated IRF4-driven macrophage-mediated anti-tumor immunity. Thus, Jagged2 orchestrates immunosuppressive systems in NSCLC that can be overcome to incite macrophage-mediated anti-tumor immunity.
Assuntos
Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas , Fatores Reguladores de Interferon , Proteína Jagged-2 , Neoplasias Pulmonares , Camundongos Knockout , Macrófagos Associados a Tumor , Proteína Jagged-2/metabolismo , Proteína Jagged-2/genética , Proteína Jagged-2/imunologia , Animais , Neoplasias Pulmonares/imunologia , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patologia , Neoplasias Pulmonares/genética , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/imunologia , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/patologia , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/metabolismo , Camundongos , Humanos , Fatores Reguladores de Interferon/metabolismo , Fatores Reguladores de Interferon/genética , Macrófagos Associados a Tumor/imunologia , Macrófagos Associados a Tumor/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais , Proteínas de Ligação ao Cálcio/metabolismo , Proteínas de Ligação ao Cálcio/genética , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Receptores Notch/metabolismo , Receptor Notch1/metabolismo , Receptor Notch1/genética , Macrófagos/imunologia , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Proteína Jagged-1/metabolismo , Proteína Jagged-1/genética , Evasão Tumoral/imunologiaRESUMO
Activation of unfolded protein responses (UPRs) in cancer cells undergoing endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress promotes survival. However, how UPR in tumor cells impacts anti-tumor immune responses remains poorly described. Here, we investigate the role of the UPR mediator pancreatic ER kinase (PKR)-like ER kinase (PERK) in cancer cells in the modulation of anti-tumor immunity. Deletion of PERK in cancer cells or pharmacological inhibition of PERK in melanoma-bearing mice incites robust activation of anti-tumor T cell immunity and attenuates tumor growth. PERK elimination in ER-stressed malignant cells triggers SEC61ß-induced paraptosis, thereby promoting immunogenic cell death (ICD) and systemic anti-tumor responses. ICD induction in PERK-ablated tumors stimulates type I interferon production in dendritic cells (DCs), which primes CCR2-dependent tumor trafficking of common-monocytic precursors and their intra-tumor commitment into monocytic-lineage inflammatory Ly6C+CD103+ DCs. These findings identify how tumor cell-derived PERK promotes immune evasion and highlight the potential of PERK-targeting therapies in cancer immunotherapy.