Aberrant hyperexpression of the RNA binding protein FMRP in tumors mediates immune evasion

Science. 2022 Nov 18;378(6621):eabl7207. doi: 10.1126/science.abl7207. Epub 2022 Nov 18.

Abstract

Many human cancers manifest the capability to circumvent attack by the adaptive immune system. In this work, we identified a component of immune evasion that involves frequent up-regulation of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) in solid tumors. FMRP represses immune attack, as revealed by cancer cells engineered to lack its expression. FMRP-deficient tumors were infiltrated by activated T cells that impaired tumor growth and enhanced survival in mice. Mechanistically, FMRP's immunosuppression was multifactorial, involving repression of the chemoattractant C-C motif chemokine ligand 7 (CCL7) concomitant with up-regulation of three immunomodulators-interleukin-33 (IL-33), tumor-secreted protein S (PROS1), and extracellular vesicles. Gene signatures associate FMRP's cancer network with poor prognosis and response to therapy in cancer patients. Collectively, FMRP is implicated as a regulator that orchestrates a multifaceted barrier to antitumor immune responses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chemokine CCL7 / metabolism
  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein* / genetics
  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immune Evasion*
  • Immune Tolerance*
  • Interleukin-33
  • Mice
  • Neoplasms* / immunology
  • Protein S / metabolism

Substances

  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein
  • FMR1 protein, human
  • Chemokine CCL7
  • Interleukin-33
  • PROS1 protein, human
  • Protein S