Cytokine-armed pyroptosis induces antitumor immunity against diverse types of tumors

Abstract Inflammasomes are defense complexes that utilize cytokines and immunogenic cell death (ICD) to stimulate the immune system against pathogens. Inspired by their dual action, we present cytokine-armed pyroptosis as a strategy for boosting immune response against diverse types of tumors. To in...

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Main Authors: Sara Orehek, Taja Železnik Ramuta, Duško Lainšček, Špela Malenšek, Martin Šala, Mojca Benčina, Roman Jerala, Iva Hafner-Bratkovič
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-12-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55083-3
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author Sara Orehek
Taja Železnik Ramuta
Duško Lainšček
Špela Malenšek
Martin Šala
Mojca Benčina
Roman Jerala
Iva Hafner-Bratkovič
author_facet Sara Orehek
Taja Železnik Ramuta
Duško Lainšček
Špela Malenšek
Martin Šala
Mojca Benčina
Roman Jerala
Iva Hafner-Bratkovič
author_sort Sara Orehek
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Inflammasomes are defense complexes that utilize cytokines and immunogenic cell death (ICD) to stimulate the immune system against pathogens. Inspired by their dual action, we present cytokine-armed pyroptosis as a strategy for boosting immune response against diverse types of tumors. To induce pyroptosis, we utilize designed tightly regulated gasdermin D variants comprising different pore-forming capabilities and diverse modes of activation, representing a toolbox of ICD inducers. We demonstrate that the electrogenic transfer of ICD effector-encoding plasmids into mouse melanoma tumors when combined with intratumoral expression of cytokines IL-1β, IL-12, or IL-18, enhanced anti-tumor immune responses. Careful selection of immunostimulatory molecules is, however, imperative as a combination of IL-1β and IL-18 antagonized the protective effect of pyroptosis by IFNγ-mediated upregulation of several immunosuppressive pathways. Additionally, we show that the intratumoral introduction of armed pyroptosis provides protection against distant tumors and proves effective across various tumor types without inducing systemic inflammation. Deconstructed inflammasomes thus serve as a powerful, tunable, and tumor-agnostic strategy to enhance antitumor response, even against the most resilient types of tumors.
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spelling doaj-art-6778664f27c7443b8c92c9f7272315ad2025-01-05T12:35:16ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232024-12-0115112210.1038/s41467-024-55083-3Cytokine-armed pyroptosis induces antitumor immunity against diverse types of tumorsSara Orehek0Taja Železnik Ramuta1Duško Lainšček2Špela Malenšek3Martin Šala4Mojca Benčina5Roman Jerala6Iva Hafner-Bratkovič7Department of Synthetic Biology and Immunology, National Institute of ChemistryDepartment of Synthetic Biology and Immunology, National Institute of ChemistryDepartment of Synthetic Biology and Immunology, National Institute of ChemistryDepartment of Synthetic Biology and Immunology, National Institute of ChemistryDepartment of Analytical Chemistry, National Institute of ChemistryDepartment of Synthetic Biology and Immunology, National Institute of ChemistryDepartment of Synthetic Biology and Immunology, National Institute of ChemistryDepartment of Synthetic Biology and Immunology, National Institute of ChemistryAbstract Inflammasomes are defense complexes that utilize cytokines and immunogenic cell death (ICD) to stimulate the immune system against pathogens. Inspired by their dual action, we present cytokine-armed pyroptosis as a strategy for boosting immune response against diverse types of tumors. To induce pyroptosis, we utilize designed tightly regulated gasdermin D variants comprising different pore-forming capabilities and diverse modes of activation, representing a toolbox of ICD inducers. We demonstrate that the electrogenic transfer of ICD effector-encoding plasmids into mouse melanoma tumors when combined with intratumoral expression of cytokines IL-1β, IL-12, or IL-18, enhanced anti-tumor immune responses. Careful selection of immunostimulatory molecules is, however, imperative as a combination of IL-1β and IL-18 antagonized the protective effect of pyroptosis by IFNγ-mediated upregulation of several immunosuppressive pathways. Additionally, we show that the intratumoral introduction of armed pyroptosis provides protection against distant tumors and proves effective across various tumor types without inducing systemic inflammation. Deconstructed inflammasomes thus serve as a powerful, tunable, and tumor-agnostic strategy to enhance antitumor response, even against the most resilient types of tumors.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55083-3
spellingShingle Sara Orehek
Taja Železnik Ramuta
Duško Lainšček
Špela Malenšek
Martin Šala
Mojca Benčina
Roman Jerala
Iva Hafner-Bratkovič
Cytokine-armed pyroptosis induces antitumor immunity against diverse types of tumors
Nature Communications
title Cytokine-armed pyroptosis induces antitumor immunity against diverse types of tumors
title_full Cytokine-armed pyroptosis induces antitumor immunity against diverse types of tumors
title_fullStr Cytokine-armed pyroptosis induces antitumor immunity against diverse types of tumors
title_full_unstemmed Cytokine-armed pyroptosis induces antitumor immunity against diverse types of tumors
title_short Cytokine-armed pyroptosis induces antitumor immunity against diverse types of tumors
title_sort cytokine armed pyroptosis induces antitumor immunity against diverse types of tumors
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55083-3
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