Targeting TM4SF1 promotes tumor senescence enhancing CD8+ T cell cytotoxic function in hepatocellular carcinoma

Backgrounds/aims: Transmembrane 4 L six family member 1 (TM4SF1) is highly expressed in and contributes to the progression of various malignancies. However, how it modulates hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression and senescence remains to be elucidated.

Methods: TM4SF1 expression in HCC samples was evaluated using immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Cellular senescence was assessed through SA-β-gal activity assays and Western blot analysis. TM4SF1-related protein interactions were investigated using immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry (IP-MS), co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP), bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC), and immunofluorescence (IF). Tumor-infiltrating immune cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The HCC mouse model was established via hydrodynamic tail vein injection.

Results: TM4SF1 was highly expressed in human HCC samples and murine models. Knockdown of TM4SF1 suppressed HCC proliferation both in vitro and in vivo, inducing non-secretory senescence through upregulation of p16 and p21. TM4SF1 enhanced the interaction between AKT1 and PDPK1, promoting the phosphorylation of AKT, which subsequently downregulated p16 and p21. Meanwhile, TM4SF1-mediated AKT phosphorylation enhanced PD-L1 expression while reducing MHC I level on tumor cells, leading to impaired cytotoxic function of CD8+ T cells and an increased proportion of exhausted CD8+ T cells. In clinical HCC samples, elevated expression of TM4SF1 was associated with resistance to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. Targeting TM4SF1 via AAV induced tumor senescence, reduced tumor burden and synergistically enhanced the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy.

Conclusion: Our results revealed that TM4SF1 regulated tumor cell senescence and immune evasion through the AKT pathway, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target in HCC, particularly in combination with first-line immunotherapy.