CRISPR activation screen identifies BCL-2 proteins and B3GNT2 as drivers of cancer resistance to T cell-mediated cytotoxicity
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ABSTRACT: The cellular processes that govern tumor resistance to immunotherapy remain poorly understood. To gain insight into these processes, we perform a genome-scale CRISPR activation screen for genes that enable human melanoma cells to evade cytotoxic T cell killing. Overexpression of four top candidate genes (CD274 (PD-L1), MCL1, JUNB, and B3GNT2) confer resistance in diverse cancer cell types and mouse xenografts. By investigating the resistance mechanisms, we find that MCL1 and JUNB modulate the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. JUNB encodes a transcription factor that downregulates FasL and TRAIL receptors, upregulates the MCL1 relative BCL2A1, and activates the NF-B pathway. B3GNT2 encodes a poly-N-acetyllactosamine synthase that targets >10 ligands and receptors to disrupt interactions between tumor and T cells and reduce T cell activation. Inhibition of candidate genes sensitize tumor models to T cell cytotoxicity. Our results demonstrate that systematic gain-of-function screening can elucidate resistance pathways and identify potential targets for cancer immunotherapy.
INSTRUMENT(S): LTQ Orbitrap Elite
ORGANISM(S): Homo Sapiens (human)
TISSUE(S): Cell Culture
SUBMITTER: Julia Joung
LAB HEAD: Feng Zhang
PROVIDER: PXD031532 | Pride | 2022-02-09
REPOSITORIES: Pride
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