Inhibition of tumor cell macropinocytosis driver DHODH reverses immunosuppression and overcomes anti-PD1 resistance

Abstract

Tumor cells' macropinocytosis sustains their growth under nutrient-limiting conditions. However, the metabolic regulation of cancer macropinocytosis in immune escape and its effect on immunotherapy remain unclear. Through the metabolism compound library and genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screenings, we identified dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) as an essential driver of tumor cell macropinocytosis. DHODH sustained O-GlcNAcylation of the macropinocytic mediator neuropilin-1 (NRP1) and its membrane localization, mediating tumor cell macropinocytosis. Moreover, the DHODH-NRP1 axis-driven macropinocytosis increased intracellular amounts of lysine and tryptophan, which promoted glutarylation of the transcription factor class II transactivator (CIITA) to repress cancer cell major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC class II) expression. Pharmacological inhibition or genetic deletion of tumor cell-expressed DHODH potently recruited more immune cell infiltration and activated antitumor immunity in vivo, overcoming anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) resistance. High expression of DHODH and NRP1 in human breast and lung cancer tissues predicted patients' poor prognosis. Therefore, targeting DHODH to inhibit tumor cell macropinocytosis provides a potential approach to reverse immunosuppression for improving cancer immunotherapy.

Keywords: O-GlcNAcylation; cancer immunotherapy; dihydroorotate dehydrogenase; glutarylation; macropinocytosis; neuropilin-1, MHC class II; pyrimidine metabolism.