An HLA-G/SPAG9/STAT3 axis promotes brain metastases

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2023 Feb 21;120(8):e2205247120. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2205247120. Epub 2023 Feb 13.

Abstract

Brain metastases (BM) are the most common brain neoplasm in adults. Current BM therapies still offer limited efficacy and reduced survival outcomes, emphasizing the need for a better understanding of the disease. Herein, we analyzed the transcriptional profile of brain metastasis initiating cells (BMICs) at two distinct stages of the brain metastatic cascade-the "premetastatic" or early stage when they first colonize the brain and the established macrometastatic stage. RNA sequencing was used to obtain the transcriptional profiles of premetastatic and macrometastatic (non-premetastatic) lung, breast, and melanoma BMICs. We identified that lung, breast, and melanoma premetastatic BMICs share a common transcriptomic signature that is distinct from their non-premetastatic counterparts. Importantly, we show that premetastatic BMICs exhibit increased expression of HLA-G, which we further demonstrate functions in an HLA-G/SPAG9/STAT3 axis to promote the establishment of brain metastatic lesions. Our findings suggest that unraveling the molecular landscape of premetastatic BMICs allows for the identification of clinically relevant targets that can possibly inform the development of preventive and/or more efficacious BM therapies.

Keywords: HLA-G; SPAG9; STAT3; brain metastases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Adult
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain Neoplasms* / secondary
  • Breast Neoplasms* / pathology
  • HLA-G Antigens* / genetics
  • Humans
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Melanoma* / pathology
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / genetics

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • HLA-G Antigens
  • SPAG9 protein, human
  • STAT3 protein, human
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor