npj Precision Oncology
·
2025
·Vol. 9
·期 1
·1-15
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IF 8
Huo Ran,Xu Quan-guo,You Yi-qing,Chen Yan-lin,Su Guang-jian,Yang Kun-rong,Xiao Yan-ping,Xue Zhong,Li Yang-jin,Sun Pei,Cui Zhao-lei,Lin Ying-ying,Guo Jun-ying,Xu Hai-yan,Chen Zhao-shuo,Xie Wen-ting,Xu Shao-hua,Chen Min-yong,Wu Jing,He Shi-jie,Xiao Zhen-zhou,Chen Yan
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent and deadly cancer. Gut microbiota affect tumor immunity and immunotherapy efficacy, but the exact mechanisms are unclear. A study compared gut microbiota in HCC patients and healthy controls (HC) using 16S rDNA analysis and metabolomics. It found higher levels of Bifidobacterium and a positive correlation between Bifidobacterium and isobutyric acid in HC group. Animal models showed that the combination of HC fecal matter and αPD-1 treatment reduced tumor volume more effectively than the combination of HCC fecal matter and αPD-1. The combination of Bifidobacterium or isobutyrate with αPD-1 also decreased tumor size. In vitro, isobutyrate-stimulated CD8 + T cells increased IFN-γ secretion, suppressed liver cancer cells, and downregulated the JAK/STAT3 pathway. Combined treatments increased CD8 + T cells and IFN-γ levels and reduced JAK/STAT3 signaling in the tumor microenvironment. This suggests that Bifidobacterium and isobutyrate can inhibit tumor growth, offering insights into gut microbiota-host interactions and potential strategies to overcome HCC immunotherapy resistance.
研究领域:
癌症研究
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免疫学
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微生物学
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分子生物学
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胃肠病学
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生物信息学
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药理学
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细胞生物学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH
·
2024
·Vol. 43
·期 1
·1-22
·
IF 11.4
Tu Xiaoxuan,Chen Longxian,Zheng Yi,Mu Chenglin,Zhang Zhiwei,Wang Feiyu,Ren Yiqing,Duan Yingxin,Zhang Hangyu,Tong Zhou,Liu Lulu,Sun Xunqi,Zhao Peng,Wang Lie,Feng Xinhua,Fang Weijia,Liu Xia
Background The paucity of reliable biomarkers for predicting immunotherapy efficacy in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has emerged as a burgeoning concern with the expanding use of immunotherapy. This study endeavors to delve into the potential peripheral biomarkers capable of prognosticating efficacy in HCC patients who are poised to receive anti-PD-1 monotherapy within the phase III clinical trial, KEYNOTE394. Additionally, we sought to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms for resistance to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and propose innovative combination immunotherapy strategies for future clinical application.Methods Patient blood samples were collected for single-cell RNA sequencing to evaluate the immune cell signature before receiving ICB therapy. Subsequently, in vitro assays and in vivo murine model experiments were conducted to validate the mechanism that S100A9+CD14+ monocytes play a role in ICB resistance.Results Our study demonstrates a notable enrichment of S100A9+CD14+ monocytes in the peripheral blood of patients exhibiting suboptimal responses to anti-PD-1 therapy. Moreover, we identified the Mono_S100A9 signature as a predictive biomarker, indicative of reduced efficacy in immunotherapy and decreased survival benefits across various tumor types. Mechanistically, S100A9 activates PD-L1 transcription by directly binding to the CD274 (PD-L1) gene promoter, thereby suppressing T-cell proliferation and cytotoxicity via the PD-1/PD-L1 axis, consequently diminishing the therapeutic effectiveness of subsequent anti-PD-1 treatments. Furthermore, our in vivo studies revealed that inhibiting S100A9 can synergistically enhance the efficacy of anti-PD-1 drugs in the eradication of hepatocellular carcinoma.Conclusion sOur study underscores the significance of S100A9+CD14+ monocytes in predicting inadequate response to ICB treatment and provides insights into the monocyte cell-intrinsic mechanisms of resistance to ICB therapy. We also propose a combined therapeutic approach to enhance ICB efficacy by targeting S100A9.
研究领域:
肿瘤学
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免疫学
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分子生物学
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临床试验
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Nano Today
·
2021
·
IF 20.722
Mengmeng Qin,Minghui Li,Ge Song,Canyu Yang,Peiyao Wu,Wenbing Dai,Hua Zhang,Xueqing Wang,Yiguang Wang,Demin Zhou,Bing He,Qiang Zhang
Most of tumor vaccines currently focus on inducing adaptive immunity, while the antitumor potential of innate immunity is getting more attentions. In an attempt to recruit both innate and adaptive immunity, bisphosphonates (BPs) as a type of orthopaedics drugs with biosafety was applied in an antitumor vaccine here as an innate immune regulator. BPs and calcium themselves shaped the biodegradable nanocarrier via their coordination (CaBPs), which could load peptide antigens due to its hydrophilicity and be stabilized by surface lipids including a TLR4 agonist (nanovaccine). As results, the incorporation of BPs triggered the proliferation and activation of DCs and innate-like γδT cells, while the nanovaccine enhanced antigen presentation and specific lysis of tumor cells. The combination of nanovaccine and anti-PD-1 achieved a 50% total disappearance of tumor. In a prophylactic study, no any tumor occurred in nanovaccine group during a 110 day study with 3 time tumor challenges. Generally, this study validates the double antitumor immunities and provides a very promising approach for clinic application.
研究领域:
免疫学
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肿瘤学
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药理学
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纳米技术
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
Cell Reports
·
2024
·
IF 7.5
Mingzhi Wu,Xiaojun Zhou,Xinyi Zhou,Genxin Wang,Yiqun Zeng,Jun Li,Edward V. Prochownik,Fubing Wang,Youjun Li
Cholesterol metabolism reprogramming plays essential roles in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, precisely how cholesterol metabolism is dysregulated is not clear. Here, we show that the palmitoyltransferase ZDHHC3 and depalmitoylase ABHD17A regulate HCC cell cholesterol biosynthesis by dynamically S-acylating SREBP cleavage-activating protein (SCAP). SCAP S-acylation by ZDHHC3 at C264 antagonizes HACE1-mediated SCAP ubiquitination. Intriguingly, SREBP2 transcriptionally upregulates ZDHHC3 to form a positive feedback loop, which explains why negative feedback regulation of SCAP/SREBP2 signaling fails in HCC. Increased cholesterol in the tumor microenvironment (TME) restrains CD4 + T cell cytotoxicity. Hence, the cholesterol metabolism reprogramming and cholesterol level alternation in the TME cooperate to promote HCC development. We identified a small-molecule inhibitor of ZDHHC3 that, combined with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, inhibited diethyl nitrosamine (DEN)/CCl 4 -induced HCC growth in mice. ZDHHC3-mediated SCAP S-acylation reprograms cholesterol metabolism and promotes HCC immune escape. ZDHHC3 is thus identified as a rational chemotherapy target for HCC.
研究领域:
癌症生物学
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分子生物学
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免疫学
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代谢学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
CANCER CELL
·
2022
·
IF 38.585
Haixia Long,Qingzhu Jia,Liuyang Wang,Wenfeng Fang,Zhongyu Wang,Tao Jiang,Fei Zhou,Zheng Jin,Jiani Huang,Li Zhou,Chunyan Hu,Xinxin Wang,Jin Zhang,Yujie Ba,Yujie Gong,Xianghua Zeng,Dong Zeng,Xingxing Su,Peter B. Alexander,Li Wang,Limei Wang,Yisong Y. Wan,Xiao-Fan Wang,Li Zhang,Qi-Jing Li,Bo Zhu
Summary Despite the unprecedented success of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) as anti-cancer therapy, it remains a prevailing clinical need to identify additional mechanisms underlying ICI therapeutic efficacy and potential drug resistance. Here, using lineage tracking in cancer patients and tumor-bearing mice, we demonstrate that erythroid progenitor cells lose their developmental potential and switch to the myeloid lineage. Single-cell transcriptome analyses reveal that, notwithstanding quantitative differences in erythroid gene expression, erythroid differentiated myeloid cells (EDMCs) are transcriptionally indistinguishable from their myeloid-originated counterparts. EDMCs possess multifaceted machinery to curtail T cell-mediated anti-tumor responses. Consequently, EDMC content within tumor tissues is negatively associated with T cell inflammation for the majority of solid cancers; moreover, EDMC enrichment, in accordance with anemia manifestation, is predictive of poor prognosis in various cohorts of patients undergoing ICI therapy. Together, our findings reveal a feedforward mechanism by which tumors exploit anemia-triggered erythropoiesis for myeloid transdifferentiation and immunosuppression.
研究领域:
肿瘤学
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免疫学
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分子生物学
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癌症治疗
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Acta Biomaterialia
·
2025
·
IF 9.6
Jiaxuan Li,Kuirong Mao,Xiandi Meng,Jialiang Wang,Mengfei Zhao,Yue Lv,Yanbao Xin,Huating Sun,Yuning Zhang,Yong-Guang Yang,Tianmeng Sun
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) significantly influence the clinical outcomes of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. Strategies aimed at reprogramming TAMs from the immunosuppressive M2 phenotype to the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype hold promise for enhancing ICB efficacy. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a potent Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) ligand, can reprogram TAMs toward an M1 phenotype. However, the systemic application of LPS is restricted due to its pronounced pro-inflammatory properties, which limit safe dosing in cancer treatment. To address this, thermosensitive hydrogels offer a viable solution by optimizing drug bioavailability and reducing systemic dissemination. In our study, carboxymethyl chitosan (CS) was incorporated into Pluronic F127 to extend the hydrogel's degradation period, facilitating the localized delivery and accumulation of LPS within tumor sites. Peritumoral injection of this hydrogel enhanced the tumor-inhibitory effects of anti-PD-1 antibodies, significantly improving the survival of 4T1 tumor-bearing mice. The GelF127CS-LPS hydrogel also increased the expression of the activation marker on tumor-infiltrating dendritic cells, promoted a higher M1/M2 TAM ratio, and enhanced CD8 + T cell infiltration into tumors—key indicators of T-cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity. Notably, no significant liver or hematological toxicity was observed with GelF127CS-LPS treatment, underscoring its favorable safety profile. These findings demonstrate the potential of GelF127CS-LPS as a TAMs-modulating agent and a promising combinatorial strategy to boost ICB therapy effectiveness. Statement of significance LPS, a potent TLR4 ligand, can reprogram tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) toward an M1 phenotype, thereby contributing to tumor inhibition. However, its anti-tumor application is constrained by the contradiction between high-dose toxicity and insufficient efficacy at low doses. To address this issue, we developed a thermosensitive hydrogel encapsulating LPS, GelF127CS-LPS, which allows localized LPS release within the tumor area. This hydrogel reprograms TAMs at a picogram level of LPS to achieve a favorable M1/M2 ratio and promotes the activation of T cell-mediated antitumor immunity without observable toxicity. Consequently, when combined with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), the hydrogel can inhibit tumor growth and improve overall survival. This study provides an effective method for tumor-targeted therapeutic LPS delivery to enhance the efficacy of ICB.
研究领域:
肿瘤学
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免疫疗法
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药学
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癌症研究
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
·
2022
·
IF 16.744
Yan Du,Chunlei Shan,Yuchan You,Minjiang Chen,Luwen Zhu,Gaofeng Shu,Gang Han,Liming Wu,Jiansong Ji,Hong Yu,Yongzhong Du
Lenvatinib (LEN) combined with immune checkpoint PD-1 blockade is among the most effective treatment strategies for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and has been deemed a breakthrough therapy by the Food and Drug Administration. However, this combined strategy is associated with disadvantages such as non-tumor targeted aggregation and low oral bioavailability after long-term administration of LEN, and some patients show poor responses to immunotherapy as well. To overcome these drawbacks, SP94 peptide-modified thermal-sensitive micelles (SP94-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(acrylamide- co -acrylonitrile, SP94-PEG-p(AAm- co -AN)) with an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) of 43 °C were designed. The micelles were further co-loaded with LEN and IR-1061-Acridine (IR-1061-AcD) to simultaneously achieve small molecule targeted drug, photothermal and photodynamic therapy for HCC under the guidance of near-infrared second-region (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging. After intravenous injection, the co-loaded micelles (SP94-PEG-p(AAm- co -AN)/LEN/IR-1061-AcD, SPLI) showed greater accumulation at tumor sites because SP94 has a high affinity for glucoregulatory protein 78 (GRP78), which is overexpressed on HCC cells. Given these HCC-targeted effects, SPLI appeared useful for NIR-II fluorescence imaging, enabling real-time tumor monitoring and surgical resection. In addition, SPLI could extensively induce immunogenic cell death in tumors, resulting in beneficial systemic immune responses. When further combined with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, SPLI displayed a superior potential in suppressing tumor growth and metastasis while avoiding immune inhibition. Taken together, our study suggests that the aforementioned combinational strategy could serve as a desired multifunctional approach for HCC management.
研究领域:
肿瘤学
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药学
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生物医学工程
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免疫学
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材料科学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
·
2024
·
IF 10.5
Lianyi Yang,Yazhen Wang,Yujun Song,Zeya Li,Lei Lei,Hanmei Li,Bin He,Jun Cao,Huile Gao
Activation of the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) pathway is an effective way to initiate an immune response against tumors, and the research on agonists targeting STING has become a new hotspot in the development of antitumor drugs. However, as a novel STING agonist, the limited bioavailability and activation routes of manganese ions (Mn 2+ ) significantly hinder its antitumor effects. To address these challenges, we have designed a metal-coordinated nucleoside metabolic inhibitor (gemcitabine, Gem)-induced metal nanotheranostic (MGP) with PEGylation. This formulation synergistically enhanced the immune response against cancer cells by sensitizing the cGAS-STING pathway and promoting immunogenic cell death (ICD). Modified with PEG derivatives, MGP was efficiently delivered to the tumor site and was internalized by cancer cells. Upon internalization, the release of Mn 2+ triggered the activation of the cGAS-STING pathway, while the release of Gem induced DNA damage. On the one hand, the damaged DNA caused by Gem leaked into the cytoplasm, synergistically amplified Mn 2+ -induced activation of the cGAS-STING pathway, and induced the production of the tumor cytotoxic factor IFN-β. On the other hand, Mn 2+ -mediated chemodynamic therapy (CDT) exhibited an ICD effect, which further synergized with the activation of the cGAS-STING pathway to promote dendritic cells (DCs) maturation and antigen-specific T cells infiltration. Both in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that MGP nanotheranostics could elicit a robust antitumor effect, especially when combined with anti-PD-1. This study provided a new paradigm for intensifying immune activation by constructing metal coordination nanotheranostics.
研究领域:
癌症免疫治疗
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纳米技术
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药学
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免疫学
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Cell Metabolism
·
2025
·
IF 30.9
Tiezhu Shi,Jialiang Shao,Yufeng Ding,Hong Tang,Xiangyin Tan,Sisi Zhou,Shaoqing Yu,Xiang Wang,Guanzhen Yu,Ninghan Feng,Xiongjun Wang
Metabolic adaptations involved in tumor metastasis and immune evasion merit investigation. Here, using in vivo metabolic CRISPR/Cas9 knockout screening, we identified xylulokinase (XYLB) as a tumor suppressor that impairs lung colonialization by producing xylulose 5-phosphate (Xu5P), which promotes CD8 + T cell cytotoxicity. Mechanistically, CD8 + T cells express relatively high levels of solute carrier family 35 member E2 (SLC35E2), a homolog of the plant Xu5P transporter, to facilitate Xu5P uptake and subsequently intensify the pentose phosphate pathway and glycolysis for energy/redox balance. Furthermore, we revealed that Xu5P potentiates CD8 + T cell response by promoting Xu5P-responsive progenitor-like SLC35E2 + CD8 + exhausted T cells via tet methylcytosine dioxygenase 3 (TET3)-mediated DNA demethylation of the Tcf7 promoter. Clinically, elevated XYLB or blood Xu5P correlates with enhanced CD8 + T cell efficacy and reduced metastasis. In murine models, Xu5P supplementation or adopting Xu5P-rich diets synergizes with anti-PD-1 therapy to enhance antitumor immunity. These findings offer insights into the potentiality of dietary interventions for metastatic cancer.
研究领域:
癌症生物学
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免疫学
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代谢工程
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分子生物学
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遗传学
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肿瘤免疫学
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营养科学
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细胞信号传导
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Science Advances
·
2020
·Vol. 6
·期 6
·
IF 13.117
Zecong Xiao,Zhenwei Su,Shisong Han,Jinsheng Huang,Liteng Lin,Xintao Shuai
The response to programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) blockade in cancer immunotherapy is limited because of multiple immune evasion mechanisms. Here, a previously unknown strategy is proposed to synergize the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) inhibition and PD-1 blockade for antitumor immunotherapy. A dual pH-sensitive nanocarrier loading curcumin (CUR) and anti–PD-1 monoclonal antibody (aPD-1) may bind to circulating PD-1+ T cells and then follow their infiltration into the tumor. Furthermore, the nanodrug bound to PD-1+ T cells may be released in the tumor microenvironment, leaving aPD-1 to block PD-1 on T cells and generating a CUR-encapsulated cationic nanodrug that can be easily taken up by tumor cells/tumor associated macrophages (TAMs). Thus, not only the antitumor T cells mediate efficient CUR delivery to tumor but also the efficient CUR delivery promotes the tumor infiltration of antitumor T cells, thereby resulting in effective activation of antitumor immunity.
研究领域:
癌症免疫疗法
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纳米技术
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免疫学
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药理学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY
·
2023
·Vol. 21
·期 1
·1-22
·
IF 10.2
Zhang Shushan,Huang Yongquan,Pi Songying,Chen Hui,Ye Feile,Wu Chaoqun,Li Liujun,Ye Qing,Lin Yuhong,Su Zhongzhen
Incomplete radiofrequency ablation (IRFA) triggers mild protective autophagy in residual tumor cells and results in an immunosuppressive microenvironment. This accelerates the recurrence of residual tumors and causes resistance to anti-PD-1/PDL1 therapy, which bringing a great clinical challenge in residual tumors immunotherapy. Mild autophagy activation can promote cancer cell survival while further amplification of autophagy contributes to immunogenic cell death (ICD). To this regard, we constructed active targeting zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with STF62247 or both STF62247 and BMS202, namely STF62247@ZIF-8/PEG-FA (SZP) or STF62247-BMS202@ZIF-8/PEG-FA (SBZP) NPs. We found that SZP NPs inhibited proliferation and stimulated apoptosis of residual tumor cells exposed to sublethal heat stress in an autophagy-dependent manner. Further results discovered that SZP NPs could amplify autophagy in residual tumor cells and evoke their ICD, which dramatically boosted the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs). Through vaccination experiments, we found for the first time that vaccination with heat + SZP treatment could efficiently suppress the growth of new tumors and establish long-term immunological memory. Furthermore, SBZP NPs could remarkably promote the ICD of residual tumor cells, obviously activate the anti-tumor immune microenvironment, and significantly inhibit the growth of residual tumors. Thus, amplified autophagy coupled with anti-PD-1/PDL1 therapy is potentially a novel strategy for treating residual tumors after IRFA.Graphical Abstract
研究领域:
肿瘤学
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免疫治疗
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纳米技术
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癌症生物学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
IMMUNITY
·
2024
·
IF 25.5
Zhigang Nian,Yingchao Dou,Yiqing Shen,Jintang Liu,Xianghui Du,Yong Jiang,Yonggang Zhou,Binqing Fu,Rui Sun,Xiaohu Zheng,Zhigang Tian,Haiming Wei
As the most frequent genetic alteration in cancer, more than half of human cancers have p53 mutations that cause transcriptional inactivation. However, how p53 modulates the immune landscape to create a niche for immune escape remains elusive. We found that cancer stem cells (CSCs) established an interleukin-34 (IL-34)-orchestrated niche to promote tumorigenesis in p53-inactivated liver cancer. Mechanistically, we discovered that Il34 is a gene transcriptionally repressed by p53, and p53 loss resulted in IL-34 secretion by CSCs. IL-34 induced CD36-mediated elevations in fatty acid oxidative metabolism to drive M2-like polarization of foam-like tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). These IL-34-orchestrated TAMs suppressed CD8 + T cell-mediated antitumor immunity to promote immune escape. Blockade of the IL-34-CD36 axis elicited antitumor immunity and synergized with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, leading to a complete response. Our findings reveal the underlying mechanism of p53 modulation of the tumor immune microenvironment and provide a potential target for immunotherapy of cancer with p53 inactivation.
研究领域:
肿瘤学
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免疫学
·
分子生物学
·
癌症遗传学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子