Targeting Annexin A2 to reactivate tumor-associated antigens presentation and relieve immune tolerance in liver cancer

Background Tumor cells manipulate the tumor-associated antigens presentation to escape immune surveillance; however, the molecular mechanism is not exactly clear and the measure to intervene is missing.Methods Annexin A2 was knockout by the CRISPR-Cas9 or blocked by the small-molecule matrine, PY60,...

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Main Authors: Min Li, Hui Shen, Feng Xie, Feng Lu, Jianxin Yang, Yuxiao Tang, Qicong Shen, Zelong Gao, Mengpu Wu, Chenghua Wu, Jicong Du, Changquan Ling, Yifeng Chai, Xin Dong, Jianxin Qian, Chenqi Li, Zhenhong Guo, Dongyao Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2025-06-01
Series:Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer
Online Access:https://jitc.bmj.com/content/13/6/e011716.full
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author Min Li
Hui Shen
Feng Xie
Feng Lu
Jianxin Yang
Yuxiao Tang
Qicong Shen
Zelong Gao
Mengpu Wu
Chenghua Wu
Jicong Du
Changquan Ling
Yifeng Chai
Xin Dong
Jianxin Qian
Chenqi Li
Zhenhong Guo
Dongyao Wang
author_facet Min Li
Hui Shen
Feng Xie
Feng Lu
Jianxin Yang
Yuxiao Tang
Qicong Shen
Zelong Gao
Mengpu Wu
Chenghua Wu
Jicong Du
Changquan Ling
Yifeng Chai
Xin Dong
Jianxin Qian
Chenqi Li
Zhenhong Guo
Dongyao Wang
author_sort Min Li
collection DOAJ
description Background Tumor cells manipulate the tumor-associated antigens presentation to escape immune surveillance; however, the molecular mechanism is not exactly clear and the measure to intervene is missing.Methods Annexin A2 was knockout by the CRISPR-Cas9 or blocked by the small-molecule matrine, PY60, and hexapeptide. Chemically and genetically induced primary liver cancer models, and the orthotopically implanted liver tumor model were used. Tumor immune environment was analyzed by single-cell sequencing. Annexin A2-interacted proteins and tumor-associated antigens were identified by co-immunoprecipitation coupled with liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Tumor cells killing effects were evaluated by co-culture of tumor cells and CD8+ T cells.Results Targeting Annexin A2 effectively suppressed the progression of liver cancer. The immunosuppressive microenvironment was improved by Annexin A2 inhibition in tumor tissues. The CD8+ T cells were increased and activated by targeting Annexin A2. Mechanistically, targeting Annexin A2 inhibited its combination with HSP90. The HSP90-mediated tumor-associated antigens presentation was recovered, and the major histocompatibility complex I-presented short peptides were changed, increasing the tumor cells killing by CD8+ T cells. Interestingly, Annexin A2 was increased in liver cancer tissues and the overall survival was significantly reduced in patients with high expression. However, Annexin A2 was positively correlated with immune cell infiltration in liver cancer, implying that Annexin A2 was used by tumor cells for immune escape and immunotherapy resistance. Hence, we further confirmed that blocking Annexin A2 increased the therapeutic effects of anti-programmed cell death protein-1 both in vitro and in vivo.Conclusions Taken together, our results identified the role of Annexin A2 in the tumor-associated antigens presentation and immune evasion, which could be an actionable target in cancer immunotherapy.
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spelling doaj-art-d15e168b4ced4e7fa4712a4145e1a0862025-08-20T02:35:30ZengBMJ Publishing GroupJournal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer2051-14262025-06-0113610.1136/jitc-2025-011716Targeting Annexin A2 to reactivate tumor-associated antigens presentation and relieve immune tolerance in liver cancerMin Li0Hui Shen1Feng Xie2Feng Lu3Jianxin Yang4Yuxiao Tang5Qicong Shen6Zelong Gao7Mengpu Wu8Chenghua Wu9Jicong Du10Changquan Ling11Yifeng Chai12Xin Dong13Jianxin Qian14Chenqi Li15Zhenhong Guo16Dongyao Wang171 Department of Nutrition, Key Laboratory of Biological Defense, Ministry of Education, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, Shanghai, China1 Department of Nutrition, Key Laboratory of Biological Defense, Ministry of Education, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, Shanghai, China8 Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China6 Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Metabolite Research, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China1 Department of Nutrition, Key Laboratory of Biological Defense, Ministry of Education, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, Shanghai, China1 Department of Nutrition, Key Laboratory of Biological Defense, Ministry of Education, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, Shanghai, China2 National Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China1 Department of Nutrition, Key Laboratory of Biological Defense, Ministry of Education, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, Shanghai, China1 Department of Nutrition, Key Laboratory of Biological Defense, Ministry of Education, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, Shanghai, China3 Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China4 Department of Radiation Medicine, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China5 Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China6 Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Metabolite Research, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China7 School of medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China3 Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China1 Department of Nutrition, Key Laboratory of Biological Defense, Ministry of Education, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, Shanghai, China2 National Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China2 National Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, ChinaBackground Tumor cells manipulate the tumor-associated antigens presentation to escape immune surveillance; however, the molecular mechanism is not exactly clear and the measure to intervene is missing.Methods Annexin A2 was knockout by the CRISPR-Cas9 or blocked by the small-molecule matrine, PY60, and hexapeptide. Chemically and genetically induced primary liver cancer models, and the orthotopically implanted liver tumor model were used. Tumor immune environment was analyzed by single-cell sequencing. Annexin A2-interacted proteins and tumor-associated antigens were identified by co-immunoprecipitation coupled with liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Tumor cells killing effects were evaluated by co-culture of tumor cells and CD8+ T cells.Results Targeting Annexin A2 effectively suppressed the progression of liver cancer. The immunosuppressive microenvironment was improved by Annexin A2 inhibition in tumor tissues. The CD8+ T cells were increased and activated by targeting Annexin A2. Mechanistically, targeting Annexin A2 inhibited its combination with HSP90. The HSP90-mediated tumor-associated antigens presentation was recovered, and the major histocompatibility complex I-presented short peptides were changed, increasing the tumor cells killing by CD8+ T cells. Interestingly, Annexin A2 was increased in liver cancer tissues and the overall survival was significantly reduced in patients with high expression. However, Annexin A2 was positively correlated with immune cell infiltration in liver cancer, implying that Annexin A2 was used by tumor cells for immune escape and immunotherapy resistance. Hence, we further confirmed that blocking Annexin A2 increased the therapeutic effects of anti-programmed cell death protein-1 both in vitro and in vivo.Conclusions Taken together, our results identified the role of Annexin A2 in the tumor-associated antigens presentation and immune evasion, which could be an actionable target in cancer immunotherapy.https://jitc.bmj.com/content/13/6/e011716.full
spellingShingle Min Li
Hui Shen
Feng Xie
Feng Lu
Jianxin Yang
Yuxiao Tang
Qicong Shen
Zelong Gao
Mengpu Wu
Chenghua Wu
Jicong Du
Changquan Ling
Yifeng Chai
Xin Dong
Jianxin Qian
Chenqi Li
Zhenhong Guo
Dongyao Wang
Targeting Annexin A2 to reactivate tumor-associated antigens presentation and relieve immune tolerance in liver cancer
Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer
title Targeting Annexin A2 to reactivate tumor-associated antigens presentation and relieve immune tolerance in liver cancer
title_full Targeting Annexin A2 to reactivate tumor-associated antigens presentation and relieve immune tolerance in liver cancer
title_fullStr Targeting Annexin A2 to reactivate tumor-associated antigens presentation and relieve immune tolerance in liver cancer
title_full_unstemmed Targeting Annexin A2 to reactivate tumor-associated antigens presentation and relieve immune tolerance in liver cancer
title_short Targeting Annexin A2 to reactivate tumor-associated antigens presentation and relieve immune tolerance in liver cancer
title_sort targeting annexin a2 to reactivate tumor associated antigens presentation and relieve immune tolerance in liver cancer
url https://jitc.bmj.com/content/13/6/e011716.full
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