Autophagy deficiency promotes triple-negative breast cancer resistance to T cell-mediated cytotoxicity by blocking tenascin-C degradation

Nat Commun. 2020 Jul 30;11(1):3806. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-17395-y.

Abstract

Most triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients fail to respond to T cell-mediated immunotherapies. Unfortunately, the molecular determinants are still poorly understood. Breast cancer is the disease genetically linked to a deficiency in autophagy. Here, we show that autophagy defects in TNBC cells inhibit T cell-mediated tumour killing in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we identify Tenascin-C as a candidate for autophagy deficiency-mediated immunosuppression, in which Tenascin-C is Lys63-ubiquitinated by Skp2, particularly at Lys942 and Lys1882, thus promoting its recognition by p62 and leading to its selective autophagic degradation. High Tenascin-C expression is associated with poor prognosis and inversely correlated with LC3B expression and CD8+ T cells in TNBC patients. More importantly, inhibition of Tenascin-C in autophagy-impaired TNBC cells sensitizes T cell-mediated tumour killing and improves antitumour effects of single anti-PD1/PDL1 therapy. Our results provide a potential strategy for targeting TNBC with the combination of Tenascin-C blockade and immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / pharmacology
  • Autophagy / genetics
  • Autophagy / immunology*
  • B7-H1 Antigen / antagonists & inhibitors
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / transplantation
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Female
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, SCID
  • Prognosis
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / antagonists & inhibitors
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Tenascin / metabolism*
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / therapy
  • Tumor Escape / genetics
  • Tumor Escape / immunology*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • CD274 protein, human
  • P62 protein, human
  • PDCD1 protein, human
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • TNC protein, human
  • Tenascin