Expression of type I interferons (IFN) can be induced by DNA damaging agents but the mechanisms and significance of this regulation are not completely understood. We found that the transcription factor IRF3, activated in an ATM-IKKα/β dependent manner, stimulates cell-autonomous IFNβ expression in response to double-stranded DNA breaks. Cells and tissues with accumulating DNA damage produce endogenous IFNβ and stimulate IFN signaling in vitro and in vivo. In turn, IFN acts to amplify DNA damage responses, activate the p53 pathway, promote senescence and inhibit stem cells function in response to telomere shortening. Inactivation of the IFN pathway abrogates the development of diverse progeric phenotypes and extends the life span of Terc knockout mice. These data identify DNA damage response-induced IFN signaling as a critical mechanism that links accumulating DNA damage with senescence and premature aging.

Refractoriness of solid tumors including colorectal cancers (CRC) to immunotherapies is attributed to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment that protects malignant cells from cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). We found that downregulation of the type I interferon receptor chain IFNAR1 occurs in human CRC and mouse models of CRC. Downregulation of IFNAR1 in tumor stroma stimulated CRC development and growth, played a key role in formation of the immune privileged niche and predicted poor prognosis in human CRC patients. Genetic stabilization of IFNAR1 improved CTL survival and increased the efficacy of the chimeric antigen receptor T cell transfer and PD-1 inhibition. Likewise, pharmacologic stabilization of IFNAR1 suppressed tumor growth providing the rationale for upregulating IFNAR1 to improve anti-cancer therapies.

Mouse syngeneic tumor models are widely used tools to demonstrate activity of novel anti-cancer immunotherapies. Despite their widespread use, a comprehensive view of their tumor-immune compositions and their relevance to human tumors has only begun to emerge. We propose each model possesses a unique tumor-immune infiltrate profile that can be probed with immunotherapies to inform on anti-tumor mechanisms and treatment strategies in human tumors with similar profiles. In support of this endeavor, we characterized the tumor microenvironment of four commonly used models and demonstrate they encompass a range of immunogenicities, from highly immune infiltrated RENCA tumors to poorly infiltrated B16F10 tumors. Tumor cell lines for each model exhibit different intrinsic factors in vitro that likely influence immune infiltration upon subcutaneous implantation. Similarly, solid tumors in vivo for each model are unique, each enriched in distinct features ranging from pathogen response elements to antigen presentation machinery. As RENCA tumors progress in size, all major T cell populations diminish while myeloid-derived suppressor cells become more enriched, possibly driving immune suppression and tumor progression. In CT26 tumors, CD8 T cells paradoxically increase in density yet are restrained as tumor volume increases. Finally, immunotherapy treatment across these different tumor-immune landscapes segregate into responders and non-responders based on features partially dependent on pre-existing immune infiltrates. Overall, these studies provide an important resource to enhance our translation of syngeneic models to human tumors. Future mechanistic studies paired with this resource will help identify responsive patient populations and improve strategies where immunotherapies are predicted to be ineffective.

Graphical AbstractHighlights d Tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (TEV) downregulate IFNAR1 and CH25H d CH25H acts to restrict TEV uptake and limit the education of healthy cells d Downregulation of CH25H in normal cells promotes melanoma metastasis d Disruption of TEV uptake and education by reserpine elicits anti-metastatic effects SUMMARY Tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (TEV) ''educate'' healthy cells to promote metastases. We found that melanoma TEV downregulated type I interferon (IFN) receptor and expression of IFN-inducible cholesterol 25-hydroxylase (CH25H). CH25H produces 25-hydroxycholesterol, which inhibited TEV uptake. Low CH25H levels in leukocytes from melanoma patients correlated with poor prognosis. Mice incapable of downregulating the IFN receptor and Ch25h were resistant to TEV uptake, TEV-induced pre-metastatic niche, and melanoma lung metastases; however, ablation of Ch25h reversed these phenotypes. An anti-hypertensive drug, reserpine, suppressed TEV uptake and disrupted TEV-induced formation of the pre-metastatic niche and melanoma lung metastases. These results suggest the importance of CH25H in defense against education of normal cells by TEV and argue for the use of reserpine in adjuvant melanoma therapy.

Oncogene activation induces DNA damage responses and cell senescence. We report a key role of type I interferons (IFN) in oncogene-induced senescence. IFN signaling-deficient melanocytes expressing activated Braf do not exhibit senescence and develop aggressive melanomas. Restoration of IFN signaling in IFN-deficient melanoma cells induces senescence and suppresses melanoma progression. Additional data from human melanoma patients and mouse transplanted tumor models suggest the importance of non-cell-autonomous IFN signaling. Inactivation of IFN pathway is mediated by the IFN receptor IFNAR1 downregulation that invariably occurs during melanoma development. Mice harboring an IFNAR1 mutant, which is partially resistant to downregulation, delay melanoma development, suppress metastatic disease, and better respond to BRAF or PD1 inhibitors. These results suggest that IFN signaling is an important tumor suppressive pathway that inhibits melanoma development and progression and argue for targeting IFNAR1 downregulation to prevent metastatic disease and improve the efficacy of molecularly-targeted and immune-targeted melanoma therapies.

Type 1 interferons (IFN) protect the host against viruses by engaging a cognate receptor (consisting of IFNAR1/IFNAR2 chains) and inducing downstream signaling and gene expression. However, inflammatory stimuli can trigger IFNAR1 ubiquitination and downregulation thereby attenuating IFN effects in vitro. The significance of this paradoxical regulation is unknown. Presented here results demonstrate that inability to stimulate IFNAR1 ubiquitination in the Ifnar1SA knock-in mice renders them highly susceptible to numerous inflammatory syndromes including acute and chronic pancreatitis, and autoimmune and toxic hepatitis. Ifnar1SA mice (or their bone marrow-receiving wild type animals) display persistent immune infiltration of inflamed tissues, extensive damage and gravely inadequate tissue regeneration. Pharmacologic stimulation of IFNAR1 ubiquitination is protective against from toxic hepatitis and fulminant generalized inflammation in wild type but not Ifnar1SA mice. These results suggest that endogenous mechanisms that trigger IFNAR1 ubiquitination for limiting the inflammation-induced tissue damage can be purposely mimicked for therapeutic benefits.Subject Categories Immunology; Digestive System

Background: Type 1 interferons (IFN1) mediate defense against viruses but their role in regulating retrotransposon activities is unknown. Results: LINE-1 retrotransposon induces IFN1, which in turn inhibits LINE-1 retrotransposition. Conclusion: IFN1 regulate activities and propagation of LINE-1. Significance: Given that retrotransposons alter the genome, IFN1 play a role in maintenance of genomic integrity.

The unfolded protein response (UPR) regulates cell fate following exposure of cells to endoplasmic reticulum stresses. PERK, a UPR protein kinase, regulates protein synthesis and while linked with cell survival, exhibits activities associated with both tumor progression and tumor suppression. For example, while cells lacking PERK are sensitive to UPR-dependent cell death, acute activation of PERK triggers both apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, which would be expected to contribute tumor suppressive activity. We have evaluated these activities in the BRAF-dependent melanoma and provide evidence revealing a complex role for PERK in melanoma where a 50% reduction is permissive for BrafV600E-dependent transformation, while complete inhibition is tumor suppressive. Consistently, PERK mutants identified in human melanoma are hypomorphic with dominant inhibitory function. Strikingly, we demonstrate that small molecule PERK inhibitors exhibit single agent efficacy against BrafV600E-dependent tumors highlighting the clinical value of targeting PERK.