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Zhang Y, Wang M, Ye L, Shen S, Zhang Y, Qian X, Zhang T, Yuan M, Ye Z, Cai J, Meng X, Qiu S, Liu S, Liu R, Jia W, Yang X, Zhang H, Zhong X, Gao P. HKDC1 promotes tumor immune evasion in hepatocellular carcinoma by coupling cytoskeleton to STAT1 activation and PD-L1 expression. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1314. [PMID: 38351096 PMCID: PMC10864387 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45712-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has shown considerable promise for treating various malignancies, but only a subset of cancer patients benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy because of immune evasion and immune-related adverse events (irAEs). The mechanisms underlying how tumor cells regulate immune cell response remain largely unknown. Here we show that hexokinase domain component 1 (HKDC1) promotes tumor immune evasion in a CD8+ T cell-dependent manner by activating STAT1/PD-L1 in tumor cells. Mechanistically, HKDC1 binds to and presents cytosolic STAT1 to IFNGR1 on the plasma membrane following IFNγ-stimulation by associating with cytoskeleton protein ACTA2, resulting in STAT1 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation. HKDC1 inhibition in combination with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 enhances in vivo T cell antitumor response in liver cancer models in male mice. Clinical sample analysis indicates a correlation among HKDC1 expression, STAT1 phosphorylation, and survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with atezolizumab (anti-PD-L1). These findings reveal a role for HKDC1 in regulating immune evasion by coupling cytoskeleton with STAT1 activation, providing a potential combination strategy to enhance antitumor immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhang
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mingjie Wang
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
- Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ling Ye
- The Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Shengqi Shen
- Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuxi Zhang
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyu Qian
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mengqiu Yuan
- The Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Zijian Ye
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jin Cai
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiang Meng
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shiqiao Qiu
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shengzhi Liu
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rui Liu
- The Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Weidong Jia
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Anhui Provincial Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Xianzhu Yang
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou International Campus, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Huafeng Zhang
- The Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
| | - Xiuying Zhong
- Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Ping Gao
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.
- Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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