ATM-AMPKα mediated LAG-3 expression suppresses T cell function in prostate cancer

Abstract

Immunotherapy for prostate cancer (PCa) faces serious challenges. Therefore, the co-inhibitory receptors that regulate T cell function of PCa must be elucidated. Here we identified that the inhibitory receptor LAG3 was significantly induced in T cells from PCa patients. Gene array analysis revealed that insufficient ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) gene expression in PCa T cells was responsible for the elevated LAG3 expression. Mechanistically, insufficient ATM expression impaired its ability to activate AMPKα signaling and CD4⁺ T cell functions, which further enhances the binding of the transcription factors XBP1 and EGR2 to LAG3 promoter. Reconstitution of ATM and inhibition of XBP1 or EGR2 in PCa T cells suppressed LAG3 expression and restored the effector function of CD4⁺ T cells from PCa. Our study revealed the mechanism of LAG3 upregulation in CD4⁺ T lymphocytes of PCa patients and may provide insights for the development of immunotherapeutic strategies for PCa treatment.

Keywords: AMPKα; ATM; EGR2; Inhibitory receptors; LAG3; Prostate cancer; T cells.