P-FADD-CD8+T cell axis determines hepatocellular carcinoma response to immune checkpoint inhibitors
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: The heterogenicity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a key obstacle in turning the majority of ‘immune-cold’ tumors ‘hot’ for effective immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Through analyzing the naturally-existed ‘hot’ HCC variants, we identified fas-associated death domain (FADD) as a key molecule upregulated in patients with dense tumor-filtrating CD8+T cells and better response to ICIs. Apart from the canonical role in apoptosis pathway, our data showed that CRISPR knockout of hepatoma-intrinsic Fadd led to increased tumor weights in immunocompetent but not immunodeficient mice, accompanied with decreased numbers and IFN-γ/TNF-ɑ production of tumor-filtrating CD8+T cells. Mechanistically, phosphorylated FADD translocated into cell nucleus, where it interacted with Sam68 to upregulate NF-κB transcription of CCL5, thereby promoted CD8+T cell tumor infiltration. Interestingly, anti-PD1 triggered FADD phosphorylation by CD8+T cell-derived IFN-γ/TNF-ɑ in ICI-sensitive, but not resistant tumors. Sequential FADD activation through genetic or pharmacologic approaches to orchestrate p-FADD-CD8+T cell axis therefore overcame ICI resistance in ICI-resistant orthotopic and spontaneous HCC mouse models in vivo. Taken together, our findings may provide insights into the combinatory immunotherapy approaches for the majority of HCC patients in the future.
INSTRUMENT(S):
ORGANISM(S): Homo Sapiens (human)
TISSUE(S): Hepatocyte, Cell Culture
DISEASE(S): Hepatocellular Carcinoma
SUBMITTER:
Thomas Ting Hei Chan
LAB HEAD: Jingying Zhou
PROVIDER: PXD057519 | Pride | 2025-07-07
REPOSITORIES: Pride
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