Immunotherapy is a promising approach for treating patients with advanced breast cancer. However, immunosuppressive microenvironments induced by regulatory T cells (Treg) present a major barrier to successful anti-tumor immunotherapy. Defining the suppressive mechanisms used by different types of tumor- infiltrating Treg cells is essential for the development of novel strategies to treat human breast cancer. We recently discovered high percentages of ?? Treg cells existing among the tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) of breast tumor patients, which are strongly negatively correlated with clinical outcomes. We further identified a novel suppressive mechanism whereby ?? Treg cells induce senescence in T cells and dendritic cells (DCs) that then also develop potent suppressive activity. Therefore, it is critical to further identify the molecular mechanisms responsible for ?? Treg-induced senescence in immune cells, and then to develop strategies to reverse senescence induction mediated by ?? Treg cells. Increasing evidence indicates that the ability of a lymphocyte to perform functional immune responses is controlled by pathways of energy metabolism. However, little is known about the regulation of energy metabolism in tolerogenic DCs and Treg cells. We recently found that ?? Treg cells dramatically reprogram DC lipid metabolism. In addition, we observed that TLR8 signaling significantly suppresses glucose metabolism in human ?? Treg cells via inhibition of both glucose transporters and glycolysis-related enzymes. The central hypotheses of this proposal are that: 1) breast cancer-derived ???Treg cells rewrite lipid metabolism in DCs, resulting in DC senescence with tolerogenic phenotypes and functions; 2) reprogramming of metabolism in Treg cells and DCs can serve as a novel strategy to synergistically enhance anti-tumor immunity for tumor immunotherapy.
Specific Aim 1 seeks to identify what lipid species are changed in ?? Treg-induced senescent DCs and whether the altered lipid components are causatively related to the DC senescence and impaired functions. We will then investigate the importance of transcription factor STAT and PD1-PDL1 signaling in controlling lipid metabolism disorder, senescence induction and impaired functions occurred in ?? Treg-treated DCs.
Specific Aim 2 will identify the key glucose metabolites that involve ?? Treg-mediated immune suppression and are regulated by TLR8 signaling for functional reversal in human ?? Treg cells. We will then test the novel concept that TLR8 activation in ?? Treg cells combined with checkpoint blockade of PD-L1 in DCs can serve as novel strategies to reprogram their metabolism and synergistically enhance anti-tumor immunity for breast cancer immunotherapy. A positive outcome from these studies should lead to novel strategies to reprogram innate and adaptive immune cell metabolism for future breast cancer immunotherapy.

Public Health Relevance

The proposed studies address the important areas of breast cancer that is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women throughout the world, and the regulatory T cell-induced tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment that is a major barrier for successful anti-tumor immunotherapy. The proposed research has relevance to public health, because it seeks to dissect novel suppressive mechanisms and then to develop strategies that control immune suppression mediated by regulatory T cells in human breast cancer. Thus, the findings are ultimately expected to improve treatment of human breast cancer and other cancers as well.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA237149-02
Application #
10104462
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Kuo, Lillian S
Project Start
2020-02-11
Project End
2025-01-31
Budget Start
2021-02-01
Budget End
2022-01-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2021
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Saint Louis University
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
050220722
City
Saint Louis
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
63103