Tumor-expressed SPPL3 supports innate anti-tumor immune responses

Abstract

The development of an effective anti-tumor response relies on the synergistic actions of various immune cells that recognize tumor cells via distinct receptors. Tumors, however, often manipulate receptor-ligand interactions to evade recognition by the immune system. Recently, we highlighted the role of neolacto-series glycosphingolipids (nsGSLs), produced by the enzyme beta1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase 5 (B3GNT5), in tumor immune escape. We previously demonstrated that loss of signal peptidase like 3 (SPPL3), an inhibitor of B3GNT5, results in elevated levels of nsGSLs and impairs CD8 T cell activation. The impact of loss of SPPL3 and an elevated nsGSL profile in tumor cells on innate immune recognition remains to be elucidated. This study investigates the anti-tumor efficacy of neutrophils, NK cells, and gamma delta T cells on tumor cells lacking SPPL3. Our findings demonstrate that SPPL3-deficient target cells are less susceptible to trogocytosis by neutrophils and killing by NK cells and gamma delta T cells. Mechanistically, SPPL3 influences trogocytosis and γδ T cell instigated killing through modulation of nsGSL expression while SPPL3-mediated reduced killing by NK cells is nsGSL-independent. The nsGSL-dependent SPPL3 sensitivity depends on the proximity of surface receptor domains to the cell membrane and the affinity of receptor-ligand interactions as shown with various sets of defined antibodies. Thus, SPPL3 expression by tumor cells alters crosstalk with immune cells through the receptor-ligand interactome thereby driving escape not only from adaptive but also from innate immunity. These data underline the importance of investigating a potential synergism of GSL synthesis inhibitors with current immune cell activating immunotherapies.