Oncogenic lncRNA downregulates cancer cell antigen presentation and intrinsic tumor suppression

Nat Immunol. 2019 Jul;20(7):835-851. doi: 10.1038/s41590-019-0400-7. Epub 2019 Jun 3.

Abstract

How tumor cells genetically lose antigenicity and evade immune checkpoints remains largely elusive. We report that tissue-specific expression of the human long noncoding RNA LINK-A in mouse mammary glands initiates metastatic mammary gland tumors, which phenotypically resemble human triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). LINK-A expression facilitated crosstalk between phosphatidylinositol-(3,4,5)-trisphosphate and inhibitory G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) pathways, attenuating protein kinase A-mediated phosphorylation of the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM71. Consequently, LINK-A expression enhanced K48-polyubiquitination-mediated degradation of the antigen peptide-loading complex (PLC) and intrinsic tumor suppressors Rb and p53. Treatment with LINK-A locked nucleic acids or GPCR antagonists stabilized the PLC components, Rb and p53, and sensitized mammary gland tumors to immune checkpoint blockers. Patients with programmed ccll death protein-1(PD-1) blockade-resistant TNBC exhibited elevated LINK-A levels and downregulated PLC components. Hence we demonstrate lncRNA-dependent downregulation of antigenicity and intrinsic tumor suppression, which provides the basis for developing combinational immunotherapy treatment regimens and early TNBC prevention.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma / genetics
  • Adenoma / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation / immunology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / metabolism
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Disease Progression
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Oncogenes*
  • Phosphorylation
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics*
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Tumor Escape / genetics*
  • Tumor Escape / immunology*
  • Tumor Microenvironment / genetics
  • Tumor Microenvironment / immunology
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism
  • Ubiquitination
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • LINK-A long non-coding RNA, human
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases