Orexin A Suppresses the Expression of Exosomal PD-L1 in Colon Cancer and Promotes T Cell Activity by Inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Pathway

Background: Colon cancer, ranked third in cancer related mortality, is the most common malignant cancer of digestive tract. Though immune checkpoint inhibitors show promising efficacy in colon cancer, a rather high unresponsive rate and recurrence rate requires further elucidation of the underlying regulatory mechanism of cancer-related immunity.

Aims: To study the regulatory function of Orexin A in the expression of exosomal PD-L1 and T cell activity.

Methods: Orthotopic colon cancer transplantation mice model were established to study the cancer growth and immune infiltration between Orexin A treated group and untreated group. In vitro studies using mouse CT-26 and human HCT-116 colon cancer cell model studied the effect of Orexin A on cellular and exosomal PD-L1 expression. Co-culturing Jurkat cells with exosomes delivered by cancer cells treated with Orexin A, PD-L1 knockdown and PBS studied different effects on T cell. Comparing Orexin A with WP1066, a JAK2/STAT3 inhibitor verified the mechanism of these changes.

Results: The growth rate of orthotopic transplanted colon cancer was slower in Orexin A treated group, with lower PD-L1 expression and higher immune infiltration. Orexin A could inhibit cellular and exosomal PD-L1 expression. The decreased expression of PD-L1 in exosomes could promote the activity of Jurkat cells secreting higher level of IFN-γ and IL-2. Orexin A showed a similar effect like WP1066 which proved JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway was its downstream signaling pathway.

Conclusions: Orexin A could suppress the expression of exosomal PD-L1 in colon cancer cells and promote T cells activity by inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.