The Pellino1-PKCθ Signaling Axis Is an Essential Target for Improving Antitumor CD8+ T-lymphocyte Function

• Published in: Cancer immunology research Vol. 10; no. 3; p. 327
• Main Authors: Park, Jihyun, Lee, Si-Yeon, Jeon, Yoon, Kim, Kyung-Mo, Lee, Jin-Kwan, Ko, Jiwon, Park, Eun-Ji, Yoon, Joon-Sup, Kang, Baeki E, Ryu, Dongryeol, Lee, Ho, Shin, Su-Jin, Go, Heounjeong, Lee, Chang-Woo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-03-2022
• Subjects: CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating - metabolism; Nuclear Proteins; Protein Kinase C-theta - metabolism; Signal Transduction; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases - metabolism
• ISSN: 2326-6074
• DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.CIR-21-0419

CD8+ T cells play an important role in the elimination of tumors. However, the underlying mechanisms involved in eliciting and maintaining effector responses in CD8+ T cells remain to be elucidated. Pellino1 (Peli1) is a receptor signal-responsive ubiquitin E3 ligase, which acts as a critical mediator for innate immunity. Here, we found that the risk of developing tumors was dependent on Peli1 expression. Peli1 was upregulated in CD8+ T cells among tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL). In contrast, a deficit of Peli1 enhanced the maintenance and effector function of CD8+ TILs. The development of Peli1-deficient CD8+ TILs prevented T-cell exhaustion and retained the hyperactivated states of T cells to eliminate tumors. We also found that Peli1 directly interacted with protein kinase C-theta (PKCθ), a central kinase in T-cell receptor downstream signal transduction, but whose role in tumor immunology remains unknown. Peli1 inhibited the PKCθ pathway by lysine 48-mediated ubiquitination degradation in CD8+ TILs. In summary, the Peli1-PKCθ signaling axis is a common inhibitory mechanism that prevents antitumor CD8+ T-cell function, and thus targeting Peli1 may be a useful therapeutic strategy for improving cytotoxic T-cell activity.