SMARCAL1 is a dual regulator of innate immune signaling and PD-L1 expression that promotes tumor immune evasion
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ABSTRACT: Although genomic instability can trigger cancer-intrinsic innate immune responses that promote tumor rejection, cancer cells often evade these responses by overexpressing immune checkpoint regulators, such as PD-L1. Here, we identify the SNF2-family DNA translocase SMARCAL1 as a factor that favors tumor immune evasion by a dual mechanism involving both the suppression of innate immune signaling and the induction of PD-L1-mediated immune checkpoint responses. Mechanistically, SMARCAL1 relieves endogenous DNA damage and suppresses cGAS-STING-dependent immune signaling during cancer cell growth. Simultaneously, it cooperates with the AP-1 family member JUN to maintain chromatin accessibility at a transcriptional regulatory element in the PD-L1 gene, thereby promoting PD-L1 expression in cancer cells. Loss of SMARCAL1 enhances anti-tumor immune responses and sensitizes tumors to immune checkpoint blockade in a mouse melanoma model. Collectively, these studies uncover SMARCAL1 as a valuable target for cancer immunotherapy.
INSTRUMENT(S): timsTOF Pro
ORGANISM(S): Homo Sapiens (human)
TISSUE(S): Cell Culture
DISEASE(S): Breast Cancer
SUBMITTER: Alberto Ciccia
LAB HEAD: Alberto Ciccia
PROVIDER: PXD046384 | Pride | 2024-01-24
REPOSITORIES: Pride
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