Amphiregulin couples IL1RL1+ regulatory T cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts to impede antitumor immunity

Sci Adv. 2023 Aug 25;9(34):eadd7399. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.add7399. Epub 2023 Aug 23.

Abstract

Regulatory T (Treg) cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) jointly promote tumor immune tolerance and tumorigenesis. The molecular apparatus that drives Treg cell and CAF coordination in the tumor microenvironment (TME) remains elusive. Interleukin 33 (IL-33) has been shown to enhance fibrosis and IL1RL1+ Treg cell accumulation during tumorigenesis and tissue repair. We demonstrated that IL1RL1 signaling in Treg cells greatly dampened the antitumor activity of both IL-33 and PD-1 blockade. Whole tumor single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis and blockade experiments revealed that the amphiregulin (AREG)-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) axis mediated cross-talk between IL1RL1+ Treg cells and CAFs. We further demonstrated that the AREG/EGFR axis enables Treg cells to promote a profibrotic and immunosuppressive functional state of CAFs. Moreover, AREG mAbs and IL-33 concertedly inhibited tumor growth. Our study reveals a previously unidentified AREG/EGFR-mediated Treg/CAF coupling that controls the bifurcation of fibroblast functional states and is a critical barrier for cancer immunotherapy.

MeSH terms

  • Amphiregulin / genetics
  • Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts*
  • Carcinogenesis
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein
  • Interleukin-33
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory*
  • Tumor Microenvironment

Substances

  • Amphiregulin
  • Interleukin-33
  • ErbB Receptors
  • IL1RL1 protein, human
  • Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein