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The tumor promoter cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 regulates PD-L1 expression in colon cancer cells via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling axis

Satapathy, Shakti Ranjan LU ; Ghatak, Souvik LU and Sjölander, Anita LU (2023) In Cell Communication and Signaling 21(1).
Abstract

Immunotherapy targeting programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) or PD-1 in solid tumors has been shown to be clinically beneficial. However, in colorectal cancer (CRC), only a subset of patients benefit from PD-1/PD-L1 treatment. Previously, we showed that high cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 (CysLT1R) levels are associated with poor prognosis in CRC patients. Recently, we have revealed the role of the tumor promoter CysLT1R in drug resistance and stemness in colon cancer (CC) cells. Here, we show the role of the CysLT1R/Wnt/β-catenin signaling axis in the regulation of PD-L1 using both in vitro and in vivo preclinical model systems. Interestingly, we found that both endogenous and IFNγ-induced PD-L1... (More)

Immunotherapy targeting programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) or PD-1 in solid tumors has been shown to be clinically beneficial. However, in colorectal cancer (CRC), only a subset of patients benefit from PD-1/PD-L1 treatment. Previously, we showed that high cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 (CysLT1R) levels are associated with poor prognosis in CRC patients. Recently, we have revealed the role of the tumor promoter CysLT1R in drug resistance and stemness in colon cancer (CC) cells. Here, we show the role of the CysLT1R/Wnt/β-catenin signaling axis in the regulation of PD-L1 using both in vitro and in vivo preclinical model systems. Interestingly, we found that both endogenous and IFNγ-induced PD-L1 expression in CC cells is mediated through upregulation of CysLT1R, which enhances Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Therapeutic targeting of CysLT1R with its antagonist montelukast (Mo), as well as CRISPR/Cas9-mediated or doxycycline-inducible functional absence of CysLT1R, negatively regulated PD-L1 expression in CC cells. Interestingly, an anti-PD-L1 neutralizing antibody exhibited stronger effects together with the CysLT1R antagonist in cells (Apcmut or CTNNB1mut) with either endogenous or IFNγ-induced PD-L1 expression. Additionally, mice treated with Mo showed depletion of PD-L1 mRNA and protein. Moreover, in CC cells with combined treatment of a Wnt inhibitor and an anti-PD-L1 antibody was effective only in β-catenin-dependent (APCmut) context. Finally, analysis of public dataset showed positive correlations between the PD-L1 and CysLT1R mRNA levels. These results elucidate a previously underappreciated CysLT1R/Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the context of PD-L1 inhibition in CC, which might be considered for improving the efficacy of anti-PD-L1 therapy in CC patients.

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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Colon cancer, Cysteinyl leukotriene receptor, PD-L1, Wnt/β-catenin
in
Cell Communication and Signaling
volume
21
issue
1
article number
138
publisher
BioMed Central (BMC)
external identifiers
  • pmid:37316937
  • scopus:85161819541
ISSN
1478-811X
DOI
10.1186/s12964-023-01157-6
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
9eae0039-db85-4819-afa8-c2de3fadaa35
date added to LUP
2023-08-25 12:36:53
date last changed
2024-04-20 01:50:58
@article{9eae0039-db85-4819-afa8-c2de3fadaa35,
  abstract     = {{<p>Immunotherapy targeting programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) or PD-1 in solid tumors has been shown to be clinically beneficial. However, in colorectal cancer (CRC), only a subset of patients benefit from PD-1/PD-L1 treatment. Previously, we showed that high cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 (CysLT<sub>1</sub>R) levels are associated with poor prognosis in CRC patients. Recently, we have revealed the role of the tumor promoter CysLT<sub>1</sub>R in drug resistance and stemness in colon cancer (CC) cells. Here, we show the role of the CysLT<sub>1</sub>R/Wnt/β-catenin signaling axis in the regulation of PD-L1 using both in vitro and in vivo preclinical model systems. Interestingly, we found that both endogenous and IFNγ-induced PD-L1 expression in CC cells is mediated through upregulation of CysLT<sub>1</sub>R, which enhances Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Therapeutic targeting of CysLT<sub>1</sub>R with its antagonist montelukast (Mo), as well as CRISPR/Cas9-mediated or doxycycline-inducible functional absence of CysLT<sub>1</sub>R, negatively regulated PD-L1 expression in CC cells. Interestingly, an anti-PD-L1 neutralizing antibody exhibited stronger effects together with the CysLT<sub>1</sub>R antagonist in cells (Apc<sup>mut</sup> or CTNNB1<sup>mut</sup>) with either endogenous or IFNγ-induced PD-L1 expression. Additionally, mice treated with Mo showed depletion of PD-L1 mRNA and protein. Moreover, in CC cells with combined treatment of a Wnt inhibitor and an anti-PD-L1 antibody was effective only in β-catenin-dependent (APC<sup>mut</sup>) context. Finally, analysis of public dataset showed positive correlations between the PD-L1 and CysLT<sub>1</sub>R mRNA levels. These results elucidate a previously underappreciated CysLT<sub>1</sub>R/Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the context of PD-L1 inhibition in CC, which might be considered for improving the efficacy of anti-PD-L1 therapy in CC patients. <br/></p>}},
  author       = {{Satapathy, Shakti Ranjan and Ghatak, Souvik and Sjölander, Anita}},
  issn         = {{1478-811X}},
  keywords     = {{Colon cancer; Cysteinyl leukotriene receptor; PD-L1; Wnt/β-catenin}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
  series       = {{Cell Communication and Signaling}},
  title        = {{The tumor promoter cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 regulates PD-L1 expression in colon cancer cells via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling axis}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12964-023-01157-6}},
  doi          = {{10.1186/s12964-023-01157-6}},
  volume       = {{21}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}