Leveraging the Treg-intrinsic CTLA4-PKCη signaling pathway for cancer immunotherapy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Our previous studies revealed a critical role of a novel CTLA4-protein kinase C-eta (PKCη) signaling axis in mediating the suppressive activity of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in antitumor immunity. These studies have employed adoptive transfer of germline PKCη-deficient (Prkch-/-) Tregs into Prkch+/+ mice prior to tumor implantation. Here, we extended these findings into a biologically and clinically more relevant context.

METHODS:

We have analyzed the role of PKCη in antitumor immunity and the tumor microenvironment (TME) in intact tumor-bearing mice with Treg-specific or CD8+ T cell-specific Prkch deletion, including in a therapeutic model of combinatorial treatment. In addition to measuring tumor growth, we analyzed the phenotype and functional attributes of tumor-infiltrating immune cells, particularly Tregs and dendritic cells (DCs).

RESULTS:

Using two models of mouse transplantable cancer and a genetically engineered autochthonous hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) model, we found, first, that mice with Treg-specific Prkch deletion displayed a significantly reduced growth of B16-F10 melanoma and TRAMP-C1 adenocarcinoma tumors. Tumor growth reduction was associated with a less immunosuppressive TME, indicated by increased numbers and function of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ effector T cells and elevated expression of the costimulatory ligand CD86 on intratumoral DCs. In contrast, CD8+ T cell-specific Prkch deletion had no effect on tumor growth or the abundance and functionality of CD8+ effector T cells, consistent with findings that Prkch-/- CD8+ T cells proliferated normally in response to in vitro polyclonal or specific antigen stimulation. Similar beneficial antitumor effects were found in mice with germline or Treg-specific Prkch deletion that were induced to develop an autochthonous HCC. Lastly, using a therapeutic model, we found that monotherapies consisting of Treg-specific Prkch deletion or vaccination with irradiated Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3L)-expressing B16-F10 tumor cells post-tumor implantation significantly delayed tumor growth. This effect was more pronounced in mice receiving a combination of the two immunotherapies.

CONCLUSION:

These findings demonstrate the potential utility of PKCη inhibition as a viable clinical approach to treat patients with cancer, especially when combined with adjuvant therapies.

• Authors: Hsin-Yu Liu, Christophe Pedros, Kok-Fai Kong, Ann J Canonigo-Balancio, Wen Xue, Amnon Altman
• Journal: Journal for immunotherapy of cancer (J Immunother Cancer) Vol. 9 Issue 9 (09 2021) ISSN: 2051-1426 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 34588224 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

Chemical References

• CTLA-4 Antigen
• CTLA4 protein, human

Topics

• Animals
• CTLA-4 Antigen (metabolism)
• Humans
• Immunotherapy (methods)
• Mice
• Neoplasms (drug therapy, genetics)
• T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory