Blocking ITGA5 potentiates the efficacy of anti‐PD‐1 therapy on glioblastoma by remodeling tumor‐associated macrophages

Abstract Background Glioblastoma (GBM) is largely refractory to antibodies against programmed cell death 1 (anti‐PD‐1) therapy. Fully understanding the cellular heterogeneity and immune adaptations in response to anti‐PD‐1 therapy is necessary to design more effective immunotherapies for GBM. This s...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rongrong Zhao, Ziwen Pan, Jiawei Qiu, Boyan Li, Yanhua Qi, Zijie Gao, Wei Qiu, Weijie Tang, Xiaofan Guo, Lin Deng, Gang Li, Hao Xue
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-06-01
Series:Cancer Communications
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/cac2.70016
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849473364975943680
author Rongrong Zhao
Ziwen Pan
Jiawei Qiu
Boyan Li
Yanhua Qi
Zijie Gao
Wei Qiu
Weijie Tang
Xiaofan Guo
Lin Deng
Gang Li
Hao Xue
author_facet Rongrong Zhao
Ziwen Pan
Jiawei Qiu
Boyan Li
Yanhua Qi
Zijie Gao
Wei Qiu
Weijie Tang
Xiaofan Guo
Lin Deng
Gang Li
Hao Xue
author_sort Rongrong Zhao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Glioblastoma (GBM) is largely refractory to antibodies against programmed cell death 1 (anti‐PD‐1) therapy. Fully understanding the cellular heterogeneity and immune adaptations in response to anti‐PD‐1 therapy is necessary to design more effective immunotherapies for GBM. This study aimed to dissect the molecular mechanisms of specific immunosuppressive subpopulations to drive anti‐PD‐1 resistance in GBM. Methods We systematically analysed single‐cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics data from GBM tissues receiving anti‐PD‐1 therapy to characterize the microenvironment alterations. The biological functions of a novel circular RNA (circRNA) were validated both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanically, co‐immunoprecipitation, RNA immunoprecipitation and pull‐down assays were conducted. Results Mesenchymal GBM (MES‐GBM) cells, which were associated with a poor prognosis, and secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1)+ myeloid‐derived macrophages (SPP1+ MDMs), a unique subpopulation of MDMs with complex functions, preferentially accumulated in non‐responders to anti‐PD‐1 therapy, indicating that MES‐GBM cells and SPP1+ MDMs were the main anti‐PD‐1‐resistant cell subpopulations. Functionally, we determined that circular RNA succinate dehydrogenase complex assembly factor 2 (circSDHAF2), which was positively associated with the abundance of these two anti‐PD‐1‐resistant cell subpopulations, facilitated the formation of a regional MES‐GBM and SPP1+ MDM cell interaction loop, resulting in a spatially specific adaptive immunosuppressive microenvironment. Mechanically, we found that circSDHAF2 promoted MES‐GBM cell formation by stabilizing the integrin alpha 5 (ITGA5) protein through N‐glycosylation. Meanwhile, the N‐glycosylation of the ITGA5 protein facilitated its translocation into exosomes and subsequent delivery to MDMs to induce the formation of SPP1+ MDMs, which in turn maintained the MES‐GBM cell status and induced T‐cell dysfunction via the SPP1‐ITGA5 pathway, ultimately promoting GBM immune escape. Importantly, our findings demonstrated that antibody‐mediated ITGA5 blockade enhanced anti‐PD‐1‐mediated antitumor immunity. Conclusions This work elucidated the potential tissue adaptation mechanism of intratumoral dynamic interactions between MES‐GBM cells, MDMs and T cells in anti‐PD‐1 non‐responders and identified the therapeutic potential of targeting ITGA5 to reduce anti‐PD‐1 resistance in GBM.
format Article
id doaj-art-46b8c6b7c694411fb59e5e4b19d8ccfa
institution Kabale University
issn 2523-3548
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Cancer Communications
spelling doaj-art-46b8c6b7c694411fb59e5e4b19d8ccfa2025-08-20T03:24:08ZengWileyCancer Communications2523-35482025-06-0145667770110.1002/cac2.70016Blocking ITGA5 potentiates the efficacy of anti‐PD‐1 therapy on glioblastoma by remodeling tumor‐associated macrophagesRongrong Zhao0Ziwen Pan1Jiawei Qiu2Boyan Li3Yanhua Qi4Zijie Gao5Wei Qiu6Weijie Tang7Xiaofan Guo8Lin Deng9Gang Li10Hao Xue11Department of Neurosurgery Qilu Hospital Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain‐Inspired Science Shandong University Jinan Shandong P. R. ChinaDepartment of Neurosurgery Qilu Hospital Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain‐Inspired Science Shandong University Jinan Shandong P. R. ChinaDepartment of Neurosurgery Qilu Hospital Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain‐Inspired Science Shandong University Jinan Shandong P. R. ChinaDepartment of Neurosurgery Qilu Hospital Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain‐Inspired Science Shandong University Jinan Shandong P. R. ChinaDepartment of Neurosurgery Qilu Hospital Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain‐Inspired Science Shandong University Jinan Shandong P. R. ChinaDepartment of Neurosurgery Qilu Hospital Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain‐Inspired Science Shandong University Jinan Shandong P. R. ChinaDepartment of Neurosurgery Qilu Hospital Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain‐Inspired Science Shandong University Jinan Shandong P. R. ChinaDepartment of Neurosurgery Qilu Hospital Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain‐Inspired Science Shandong University Jinan Shandong P. R. ChinaDepartment of Neurology Loma Linda University Health Loma Linda California USADepartment of Neurosurgery Qilu Hospital Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain‐Inspired Science Shandong University Jinan Shandong P. R. ChinaDepartment of Neurosurgery Qilu Hospital Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain‐Inspired Science Shandong University Jinan Shandong P. R. ChinaDepartment of Neurosurgery Qilu Hospital Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain‐Inspired Science Shandong University Jinan Shandong P. R. ChinaAbstract Background Glioblastoma (GBM) is largely refractory to antibodies against programmed cell death 1 (anti‐PD‐1) therapy. Fully understanding the cellular heterogeneity and immune adaptations in response to anti‐PD‐1 therapy is necessary to design more effective immunotherapies for GBM. This study aimed to dissect the molecular mechanisms of specific immunosuppressive subpopulations to drive anti‐PD‐1 resistance in GBM. Methods We systematically analysed single‐cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics data from GBM tissues receiving anti‐PD‐1 therapy to characterize the microenvironment alterations. The biological functions of a novel circular RNA (circRNA) were validated both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanically, co‐immunoprecipitation, RNA immunoprecipitation and pull‐down assays were conducted. Results Mesenchymal GBM (MES‐GBM) cells, which were associated with a poor prognosis, and secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1)+ myeloid‐derived macrophages (SPP1+ MDMs), a unique subpopulation of MDMs with complex functions, preferentially accumulated in non‐responders to anti‐PD‐1 therapy, indicating that MES‐GBM cells and SPP1+ MDMs were the main anti‐PD‐1‐resistant cell subpopulations. Functionally, we determined that circular RNA succinate dehydrogenase complex assembly factor 2 (circSDHAF2), which was positively associated with the abundance of these two anti‐PD‐1‐resistant cell subpopulations, facilitated the formation of a regional MES‐GBM and SPP1+ MDM cell interaction loop, resulting in a spatially specific adaptive immunosuppressive microenvironment. Mechanically, we found that circSDHAF2 promoted MES‐GBM cell formation by stabilizing the integrin alpha 5 (ITGA5) protein through N‐glycosylation. Meanwhile, the N‐glycosylation of the ITGA5 protein facilitated its translocation into exosomes and subsequent delivery to MDMs to induce the formation of SPP1+ MDMs, which in turn maintained the MES‐GBM cell status and induced T‐cell dysfunction via the SPP1‐ITGA5 pathway, ultimately promoting GBM immune escape. Importantly, our findings demonstrated that antibody‐mediated ITGA5 blockade enhanced anti‐PD‐1‐mediated antitumor immunity. Conclusions This work elucidated the potential tissue adaptation mechanism of intratumoral dynamic interactions between MES‐GBM cells, MDMs and T cells in anti‐PD‐1 non‐responders and identified the therapeutic potential of targeting ITGA5 to reduce anti‐PD‐1 resistance in GBM.https://doi.org/10.1002/cac2.70016Anti‐PD‐1 therapyexosomesglioblastomaintergrinsN‐glycosylationtumor‐associated macrophages
spellingShingle Rongrong Zhao
Ziwen Pan
Jiawei Qiu
Boyan Li
Yanhua Qi
Zijie Gao
Wei Qiu
Weijie Tang
Xiaofan Guo
Lin Deng
Gang Li
Hao Xue
Blocking ITGA5 potentiates the efficacy of anti‐PD‐1 therapy on glioblastoma by remodeling tumor‐associated macrophages
Cancer Communications
Anti‐PD‐1 therapy
exosomes
glioblastoma
intergrins
N‐glycosylation
tumor‐associated macrophages
title Blocking ITGA5 potentiates the efficacy of anti‐PD‐1 therapy on glioblastoma by remodeling tumor‐associated macrophages
title_full Blocking ITGA5 potentiates the efficacy of anti‐PD‐1 therapy on glioblastoma by remodeling tumor‐associated macrophages
title_fullStr Blocking ITGA5 potentiates the efficacy of anti‐PD‐1 therapy on glioblastoma by remodeling tumor‐associated macrophages
title_full_unstemmed Blocking ITGA5 potentiates the efficacy of anti‐PD‐1 therapy on glioblastoma by remodeling tumor‐associated macrophages
title_short Blocking ITGA5 potentiates the efficacy of anti‐PD‐1 therapy on glioblastoma by remodeling tumor‐associated macrophages
title_sort blocking itga5 potentiates the efficacy of anti pd 1 therapy on glioblastoma by remodeling tumor associated macrophages
topic Anti‐PD‐1 therapy
exosomes
glioblastoma
intergrins
N‐glycosylation
tumor‐associated macrophages
url https://doi.org/10.1002/cac2.70016
work_keys_str_mv AT rongrongzhao blockingitga5potentiatestheefficacyofantipd1therapyonglioblastomabyremodelingtumorassociatedmacrophages
AT ziwenpan blockingitga5potentiatestheefficacyofantipd1therapyonglioblastomabyremodelingtumorassociatedmacrophages
AT jiaweiqiu blockingitga5potentiatestheefficacyofantipd1therapyonglioblastomabyremodelingtumorassociatedmacrophages
AT boyanli blockingitga5potentiatestheefficacyofantipd1therapyonglioblastomabyremodelingtumorassociatedmacrophages
AT yanhuaqi blockingitga5potentiatestheefficacyofantipd1therapyonglioblastomabyremodelingtumorassociatedmacrophages
AT zijiegao blockingitga5potentiatestheefficacyofantipd1therapyonglioblastomabyremodelingtumorassociatedmacrophages
AT weiqiu blockingitga5potentiatestheefficacyofantipd1therapyonglioblastomabyremodelingtumorassociatedmacrophages
AT weijietang blockingitga5potentiatestheefficacyofantipd1therapyonglioblastomabyremodelingtumorassociatedmacrophages
AT xiaofanguo blockingitga5potentiatestheefficacyofantipd1therapyonglioblastomabyremodelingtumorassociatedmacrophages
AT lindeng blockingitga5potentiatestheefficacyofantipd1therapyonglioblastomabyremodelingtumorassociatedmacrophages
AT gangli blockingitga5potentiatestheefficacyofantipd1therapyonglioblastomabyremodelingtumorassociatedmacrophages
AT haoxue blockingitga5potentiatestheefficacyofantipd1therapyonglioblastomabyremodelingtumorassociatedmacrophages