TY - JOUR
T1 - Targeting CD39 in cancer reveals an extracellular ATP-and inflammasome-driven tumor immunity
AU - Li, Xian Yang
AU - Moesta, Achim K.
AU - Xiao, Christos
AU - Nakamura, Kyohei
AU - Casey, Mika
AU - Zhang, Haiyan
AU - Madore, Jason
AU - Lepletier, Ailin
AU - Aguilera, Amelia Roman
AU - Sundarrajan, Ashmitha
AU - Jacoberger-Foissac, Celia
AU - Wong, Clifford
AU - de la Cruz, Tracy
AU - Welch, Megan
AU - Lerner, Alana G.
AU - Spatola, Bradley N.
AU - Soros, Vanessa B.
AU - Corbin, John
AU - Anderson, Ana C.
AU - Effern, Maike
AU - Hölzel, Michael
AU - Robson, Simon C.
AU - Johnston, Rebecca L.
AU - Waddell, Nicola
AU - Smith, Corey
AU - Bald, Tobias
AU - Geetha, Nishamol
AU - Beers, Courtney
AU - Teng, Michele W.L.
AU - Smyth, Mark J.
PY - 2019/12
Y1 - 2019/12
N2 - We explored the mechanism of action of CD39 antibodies that inhibit ectoen-zyme CD39 conversion of extracellular ATP (eATP) to AMP and thus potentially augment eATP–P2-mediated proinflammatory responses. Using syngeneic and humanized tumor models, we contrast the potency and mechanism of anti-CD39 mAbs with other agents targeting the adenosinergic pathway. We demonstrate the critical importance of an eATP–P2X7–ASC–NALP3-inflammasome–IL18 pathway in the antitumor activity mediated by CD39 enzyme blockade, rather than simply reducing adenosine as mechanism of action. Efficacy of anti-CD39 activity was underpinned by CD39 and P2X7 coexpression on intratumor myeloid subsets, an early signature of macrophage depletion, and active IL18 release that facilitated the significant expansion of intratumor effector T cells. More importantly, anti-CD39 facilitated infiltration into T cell–poor tumors and rescued anti–PD-1 resistance. Anti-human CD39 enhanced human T-cell proliferation and Th1 cytokine production and suppressed human B-cell lymphoma in the context of autologous Epstein–Barr virus–specific T-cell transfer. SIGNIFICANCE: Overall, these data describe a potent and novel mechanism of action of antibodies that block mouse or human CD39, triggering an eATP–P2X7–inflammasome–IL18 axis that reduces intratumor macrophage number, enhances intratumor T-cell effector function, overcomes anti–PD-1 resistance, and potentially enhances the efficacy of adoptive T-cell transfer.
AB - We explored the mechanism of action of CD39 antibodies that inhibit ectoen-zyme CD39 conversion of extracellular ATP (eATP) to AMP and thus potentially augment eATP–P2-mediated proinflammatory responses. Using syngeneic and humanized tumor models, we contrast the potency and mechanism of anti-CD39 mAbs with other agents targeting the adenosinergic pathway. We demonstrate the critical importance of an eATP–P2X7–ASC–NALP3-inflammasome–IL18 pathway in the antitumor activity mediated by CD39 enzyme blockade, rather than simply reducing adenosine as mechanism of action. Efficacy of anti-CD39 activity was underpinned by CD39 and P2X7 coexpression on intratumor myeloid subsets, an early signature of macrophage depletion, and active IL18 release that facilitated the significant expansion of intratumor effector T cells. More importantly, anti-CD39 facilitated infiltration into T cell–poor tumors and rescued anti–PD-1 resistance. Anti-human CD39 enhanced human T-cell proliferation and Th1 cytokine production and suppressed human B-cell lymphoma in the context of autologous Epstein–Barr virus–specific T-cell transfer. SIGNIFICANCE: Overall, these data describe a potent and novel mechanism of action of antibodies that block mouse or human CD39, triggering an eATP–P2X7–inflammasome–IL18 axis that reduces intratumor macrophage number, enhances intratumor T-cell effector function, overcomes anti–PD-1 resistance, and potentially enhances the efficacy of adoptive T-cell transfer.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85075959267&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85075959267&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-19-0541
DO - 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-19-0541
M3 - Article
C2 - 31699796
AN - SCOPUS:85075959267
VL - 9
SP - 1754
EP - 1773
JO - Cancer Discovery
JF - Cancer Discovery
SN - 2159-8274
IS - 12
ER -