Mitochondrial dynamics controls anti-tumour innate immunity by regulating CHIP-IRF1 axis stability

Nat Commun. 2017 Nov 27;8(1):1805. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-01919-0.

Abstract

Macrophages, dendritic cells and other innate immune cells are involved in inflammation and host defense against infection. Metabolic shifts in mitochondrial dynamics may be involved in Toll-like receptor agonist-mediated inflammatory responses and immune cell polarization. However, whether the mitochondrial morphology in myeloid immune cells affects anti-tumor immunity is unclear. Here we show that FAM73b, a mitochondrial outer membrane protein, has a pivotal function in Toll-like receptor-regulated mitochondrial morphology switching from fusion to fission. Switching to mitochondrial fission via ablation of Fam73b (also known as Miga2) promotes IL-12 production. In tumor-associated macrophages, this switch results in T-cell activation and enhances anti-tumor immunity. We also show that the mitochondrial morphology affects Parkin expression and its recruitment to mitochondria. Parkin controls the stability of the downstream CHIP-IRF1 axis through proteolysis. Our findings identify mechanisms associated with mitochondrial dynamics that control anti-tumor immune responses and that are potential targets for cancer immunotherapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate*
  • Interferon Regulatory Factor-1 / genetics
  • Interferon Regulatory Factor-1 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-12 / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mitochondria / metabolism*
  • Mitochondrial Dynamics / immunology*
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Proteolysis
  • Signal Transduction / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Toll-Like Receptors / immunology
  • Toll-Like Receptors / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Interferon Regulatory Factor-1
  • Irf1 protein, mouse
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • mitoguardin-2 protein, mouse
  • Interleukin-12
  • Stub1 protein, mouse
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • parkin protein