Tumor-infiltrating mast cells are associated with resistance to anti-PD-1 therapy

Nat Commun. 2021 Jan 12;12(1):346. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-20600-7.

Abstract

Anti-PD-1 therapy is used as a front-line treatment for many cancers, but mechanistic insight into this therapy resistance is still lacking. Here we generate a humanized (Hu)-mouse melanoma model by injecting fetal liver-derived CD34+ cells and implanting autologous thymus in immune-deficient NOD-scid IL2Rγnull (NSG) mice. Reconstituted Hu-mice are challenged with HLA-matched melanomas and treated with anti-PD-1, which results in restricted tumor growth but not complete regression. Tumor RNA-seq, multiplexed imaging and immunohistology staining show high expression of chemokines, as well as recruitment of FOXP3+ Treg and mast cells, in selective tumor regions. Reduced HLA-class I expression and CD8+/Granz B+ T cells homeostasis are observed in tumor regions where FOXP3+ Treg and mast cells co-localize, with such features associated with resistance to anti-PD-1 treatment. Combining anti-PD-1 with sunitinib or imatinib results in the depletion of mast cells and complete regression of tumors. Our results thus implicate mast cell depletion for improving the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy.

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

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm* / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / drug effects
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / immunology*
  • Mast Cells / drug effects
  • Mast Cells / immunology*
  • Melanoma / immunology
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Melanoma / therapy
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / metabolism
  • Sunitinib / pharmacology
  • Sunitinib / therapeutic use
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology

Substances

  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
  • Sunitinib