Targeting conserved TIM3+VISTA+ tumor-associated macrophages overcomes resistance to cancer immunotherapy

Sci Adv. 2024 Jul 19;10(29):eadm8660. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adm8660. Epub 2024 Jul 19.

Abstract

Despite the success of immunotherapy, overcoming immunoresistance in cancer remains challenging. We identified a unique niche of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), coexpressing T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing 3 (TIM3) and V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA), that dominated human and mouse tumors resistant to most of the currently used immunotherapies. TIM3+VISTA+ TAMs were sustained by IL-4-enriching tumors with low (neo)antigenic and T cell-depleted features. TIM3+VISTA+ TAMs showed an anti-inflammatory and protumorigenic phenotype coupled with inability to sense type I interferon (IFN). This was established with cancer cells succumbing to immunogenic cell death (ICD). Dying cancer cells not only triggered autocrine type I IFNs but also exposed HMGB1/VISTA that engaged TIM3/VISTA on TAMs to suppress paracrine IFN-responses. Accordingly, TIM3/VISTA blockade synergized with paclitaxel, an ICD-inducing chemotherapy, to repolarize TIM3+VISTA+ TAMs to proinflammatory TAMs that killed cancer cells via tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) signaling. We propose targeting TIM3+VISTA+ TAMs to overcome immunoresistant tumors.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B7 Antigens
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy* / methods
  • Interferon Type I / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neoplasms / therapy
  • Tumor Microenvironment / immunology
  • Tumor-Associated Macrophages* / drug effects
  • Tumor-Associated Macrophages* / immunology
  • Tumor-Associated Macrophages* / metabolism

Substances

  • Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2
  • HAVCR2 protein, human
  • Interferon Type I
  • VSIR protein, human
  • B7 Antigens