Activation of NOD1 on tumor-associated macrophages augments CD8+ T cell–mediated antitumor immunity in hepatocellular carcinoma

Menée à l'aide de lignées cellulaires, de modèles murins, d'échantillons tumoraux issus de patients atteints d'un carcinome hépatocellulaire et de données du projet "The Cancer Genome Atlas", cette étude met en évidence un mécanisme par lequel l'activation du récepteur NOD1 des macrophages associés à la tumeur augmente l'immunité antitumorale induite par les lymphocytes T CD8+

Science Advances, Volume 10, Numéro 40, Page eadp8266, 2024, article en libre accès

Résumé en anglais

The efficacy of immunotherapy targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is limited. NOD-like receptors (NLRs) comprise a highly evolutionarily conserved family of cytosolic bacterial sensors, yet their impact on antitumor immunity against HCC remains unclear. In this study, we uncovered that NOD1, a well-studied member of NLR family, exhibits predominant expression in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and correlates positively with improved prognosis and responses to anti–PD-1 treatments in patients with HCC. Activation of NOD1 in vivo augments antitumor immunity and enhances the effectiveness of anti–PD-1 therapy. Mechanistically, NOD1 activation resulted in diminished expression of perilipin 5, thereby hindering fatty acid oxidation and inducing free fatty acid accumulation in TAMs. This metabolic alteration promoted membrane localization of the costimulatory molecule OX40L in a lipid modification–dependent manner, thereby activating CD8+ T cells. These findings unveil a previously unrecognized role for NOD1 in fortifying antitumor T cell immunity in HCC, potentially advancing cancer immunotherapy.