Sirpα on tumor-associated myeloid cells restrains antitumor immunity in colorectal cancer independent of its interaction with CD47

Abstract

Immunosuppressive myeloid cells hinder immunotherapeutic efficacy in tumors, but the precise mechanisms remain undefined. Here, by performing single-cell RNA sequencing in colorectal cancer tissues, we found tumor-associated macrophages and granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells increased most compared to their counterparts in normal tissue and displayed the highest immune-inhibitory signatures among all immunocytes. These cells exhibited significantly increased expression of immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif-bearing receptors, including SIRPA. Notably, Sirpa^-/- mice were more resistant to tumor progression than wild-type mice. Moreover, Sirpα deficiency reprogramed the tumor microenvironment through expansion of TAM_Ccl8^hi and gMDSC_H2-Q10^hi subsets showing strong antitumor activity. Sirpa^-/- macrophages presented strong phagocytosis and antigen presentation to enhance T cell activation and proliferation. Furthermore, Sirpa^-/- macrophages facilitated T cell recruitment via Syk/Btk-dependent Ccl8 secretion. Therefore, Sirpα deficiency enhances innate and adaptive immune activation independent of expression of CD47 and Sirpα blockade could be a promising strategy to improve cancer immunotherapy efficacy.