title: Mitochondrial activation chemicals synergize with surface receptor PD-1 blockade for T cell-dependent antitumor activity.
abstract: Although immunotherapy by PD-1 blockade has dramatically improved the survival rate of cancer patients, further improvement in efficacy is required to reduce the fraction of less sensitive patients. In mouse models of PD-1 blockade therapy, we found that tumor-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in draining lymph nodes (DLNs) carry increased mitochondrial mass and more reactive oxygen species (ROS). We show that ROS generation by ROS precursors or indirectly by mitochondrial uncouplers synergized the tumoricidal activity of PD-1 blockade by expansion of effector/memory CTLs in DLNs and within the tumor. These CTLs carry not only the activation of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) but also an increment of their downstream transcription factors such as PPAR-gamma coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) and T-bet. Furthermore, direct activators of mTOR, AMPK, or PGC-1α also synergized the PD-1 blockade therapy whereas none of above-mentioned chemicals alone had any effects on tumor growth. These findings will pave a way to developing novel combinatorial therapies with PD-1 blockade.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Partha S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Alok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Center for Genomic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.|Life Science Research Center, Technology Research Laboratory, Shimadzu Corporation, Kyoto 604-8445, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sonomura
authors.affiliation: Center for Genomic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumihiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Mucosal Immunity, Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, RIKEN Yokohama Institute, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan.
authors.forename: Sidonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fagarasan
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan; honjo@mfour.med.kyoto-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Tasuku
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Honjo
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009025:Morpholines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D000071248:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011753:Pyrones / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014227:Triazines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: C577756:4,6-dimorpholino-N-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-amine; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D016207:Cytokines; D009025:Morpholines; D000071248:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; C485290:Ppargc1a protein, mouse; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor; D011753:Pyrones; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013876:Thiophenes; D014227:Triazines; C546843:mTOR protein, mouse; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; C512408:4-hydroxy-3-(4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)phenyl)-6-oxo-7H-thieno(2,3-b)pyridine-5-carbonitrile
keywords: PD-1; PGC-1α; cancer immunotherapy; immune metabolism; mitochondria