Intratumoral SIRPα-deficient macrophages activate tumor antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells under radiotherapy

Nat Commun. 2021 May 28;12(1):3229. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-23442-z.

Abstract

Radiotherapy (RT)-induced tumoricidal immunity is severely limited when tumors are well-established. Here, we report that depleting SIRPα on intratumoral macrophages augments efficacy of RT to eliminate otherwise large, treatment-resistant colorectal (MC38) and pancreatic (Pan02 and KPC) tumors, inducing complete abscopal remission and long-lasting humoral and cellular immunity that prevent recurrence. SIRPα-deficient macrophages activated by irradiated tumor-released DAMPs exhibit robust efficacy and orchestrate an anti-tumor response that controls late-stage tumors. Upon RT-mediated activation, intratumoral SIRPα-deficient macrophages acquire potent proinflammatory features and conduct immunogenic antigen presentation that confer a tumoricidal microenvironment highly infiltrated by tumor-specific cytotoxic T cells, NK cells and inflammatory neutrophils, but with limited immunosuppressive regulatory T cells, myeloid derived suppressor cells and post-radiation wound-healing. The results demonstrate that SIRPα is a master regulator underlying tumor resistance to RT and provide proof-of-principle for SIRPα-deficient macrophage-based therapies to treat a broad spectrum of cancers, including those at advanced stages with low immunogenicity and metastases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alarmins / immunology
  • Alarmins / metabolism
  • Alarmins / radiation effects
  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Proof of Concept Study
  • Radiation Tolerance / immunology*
  • Receptors, Immunologic / genetics
  • Receptors, Immunologic / metabolism*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology*
  • Tumor Microenvironment / immunology
  • Tumor Microenvironment / radiation effects
  • Tumor-Associated Macrophages / immunology*
  • Tumor-Associated Macrophages / metabolism
  • Tumor-Associated Macrophages / transplantation

Substances

  • Alarmins
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Ptpns1 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, Immunologic