Hypoxia-driven protease legumain promotes immunosuppression in glioblastoma
Hypoxia-driven protease legumain promotes immunosuppression in glioblastoma
ملخص البحث
Highlights
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LGMN is specifically expressed in TAMs and regulated by HIF1α
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LGMN promotes TAM immunosuppressive polarization via the GSK-3β-STAT3 pathway
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Inhibition of macrophage HIF1α and LGMN impairs GBM progression
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Blockade of the HIF1a-LGMN axis synergizes with anti-PD1 therapy in GBM
Summary
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a hypoxic and “immune-cold” tumor containing rich stromal signaling molecules and cell populations, such as proteases and immunosuppressive tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Here, we seek to profile and characterize the potential proteases that may contribute to GBM immunosuppression. Legumain (LGMN) emerges as the key protease that is highly enriched in TAMs and transcriptionally upregulated by hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF1α). Functionally, the increased LGMN promotes TAM immunosuppressive polarization via activating the GSK-3β-STAT3 signaling pathway. Inhibition of macrophage HIF1α and LGMN reduces TAM immunosuppressive polarization, impairs tumor progression, enhances CD8+ T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity, and synergizes with anti-PD1 therapy in GBM mouse models. Thus, LGMN is a key molecular switch connecting two GBM hallmarks of hypoxia and immunosuppression, providing an actionable therapeutic intervention for this deadly disease.
مؤلف البحث
Lizhi Pang,Songlin Guo,Fatima Khan, Madeline Dunterman,Heba Ali, Yang Liu, Yuyun Huang, and Peiwen Chen