Autophagy mediates cancer cell resistance to doxorubicin induced by the Programmed Death 1/Programmed Death Ligand 1 immune checkpoint axis

Abstract

Background: While the Programmed Death 1/Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) immune checkpoint is an important mechanism of immune evasion in cancer, recent studies have shown that it can also lead to resistance to chemotherapy in cancer cells via reverse signaling. Here we describe a novel mechanism by which autophagy mediates cancer cell drug resistance induced by PD-1/PD-L1 signaling. Methods: Human and mouse breast cancer cells were treated with recombinant PD-1 (rPD-1) to stimulate PD-1/PD-L1 signaling. Activation of autophagy was assessed by immunoblot analysis of microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 (LC3)-II and Beclin 1 protein levels, two important markers of autophagy. Moreover, autophagosome formation was assessed in human breast cancer cells using green fluorescence protein (GFP)-tagged LC3. Cells were either treated with Beclin 1 or Atg7 shRNA to assess the role of autophagy on resistance to doxorubicin mediated by PD-1/PD-L1 signalling. We then investigated signaling mechanisms upstream of PD-1/PD-L1 induced autophagy by assessing phosphorylation of extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK). Results: Treatment of cells with rPD-1 resulted in a time-dependent increase in LC3-II as well as Beclin 1, and an increase in autophagosome formation. Knockdown of Beclin 1 or Atg7 prevented drug resistance induced by PD-1/PD-L1 signaling. Exposure of breast cancer cells to rPD-1 resulted in increased ERK phosphorylation and inhibition of ERK activation abolished autophagy induced by PD-1/PD-L1 signaling. Conclusions: These studies provide a rationale for the use of PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint blockers and autophagy inhibitors as potential chemosensitizers in cancer therapy.