Collagen promotes anti-PD-1/PD-L1 resistance in cancer through LAIR1-dependent CD8+ T cell exhaustion

Nat Commun. 2020 Sep 9;11(1):4520. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-18298-8.

Abstract

Tumor extracellular matrix has been associated with drug resistance and immune suppression. Here, proteomic and RNA profiling reveal increased collagen levels in lung tumors resistant to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. Additionally, elevated collagen correlates with decreased total CD8+ T cells and increased exhausted CD8+ T cell subpopulations in murine and human lung tumors. Collagen-induced T cell exhaustion occurs through the receptor LAIR1, which is upregulated following CD18 interaction with collagen, and induces T cell exhaustion through SHP-1. Reduction in tumor collagen deposition through LOXL2 suppression increases T cell infiltration, diminishes exhausted T cells, and abrogates resistance to anti-PD-L1. Abrogating LAIR1 immunosuppression through LAIR2 overexpression or SHP-1 inhibition sensitizes resistant lung tumors to anti-PD-1. Clinically, increased collagen, LAIR1, and TIM-3 expression in melanoma patients treated with PD-1 blockade predict poorer survival and response. Our study identifies collagen and LAIR1 as potential markers for immunotherapy resistance and validates multiple promising therapeutic combinations.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung / drug therapy*
  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung / genetics
  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung / immunology
  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung / pathology
  • Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / genetics
  • Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / therapeutic use
  • B7-H1 Antigen / antagonists & inhibitors
  • B7-H1 Antigen / immunology
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Carcinoma, Lewis Lung / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Lewis Lung / immunology
  • Carcinoma, Lewis Lung / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Collagen / metabolism*
  • Datasets as Topic
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / immunology*
  • Extracellular Matrix / drug effects
  • Extracellular Matrix / immunology
  • Extracellular Matrix / pathology
  • Female
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2 / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / immunology
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / immunology
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 6 / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / genetics
  • RNA-Seq
  • Receptors, Immunologic / genetics
  • Receptors, Immunologic / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Cd274 protein, mouse
  • HAVCR2 protein, human
  • Havcr2 protein, mouse
  • Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2
  • LAIR-2 receptor
  • Pdcd1 protein, mouse
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor 1
  • Collagen
  • Amino Acid Oxidoreductases
  • Loxl2 protein, mouse
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 6
  • Ptpn6 protein, mouse
  • Hras protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)