Li Yingjie, Zhou Shiyao, Fu Wangxian, Li Xinchao, Chen Tao, Le Hao, Xu Yangsong, Tang Yuting, Mi Peng, Gao Huile, Wu Qinjie, Gong Changyang
Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China.
Department of Radiology, Huaxi MR Research Center, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Jul 22;122(29):e2415100122. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2415100122. Epub 2025 Jul 15.
Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has potential in alleviating cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) exhaustion. However, resistance that impaired major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) expression on tumors can be developed in many patients after ICB treatment, resulting in insufficient antigen presentation to CTLs. Herein, we rationally design a veratile and poerful mmunomodulaed hierarical nanoCRISPR converter (SWITCH) targeting PD-L1 and PCSK9 loci to convert the immune-resistance state of tumors with high PD-L1 and low MHC-I expression for augmenting the susceptibility and visibility of tumors to the immune system. SWITCH possesses enhanced blood circulation and tumor-targeting capacity through PEGylation, acid-triggered pH low insertion peptides (pHLIPs), and interaction of hyaluronan with CD44 receptors. With the assistance of hyaluronidase and preternatural oxidative stress within tumor cells, SWITCH undergoes enzyme-responsive disassembly, charge reversal, rapid lysosomal escape, and efficient disruption of PD-L1 and PCSK9 orderly. This dual-action mechanism simultaneously blocks PD-1/PD-L1 immunosuppression while restoring MHC-I-mediated antigen presentation, resulting in enhanced the susceptibility and visibility of tumors to the immune system. Our results demonstrate SWITCH's remarkable efficacy in suppressing primary, contralateral, and recurrent tumor growth. Taken together, our study provides an encouraging strategy for relieving tumor immune resistance and further potentiating the efficacy of ICB.
免疫检查点阻断(ICB)在缓解细胞毒性T淋巴细胞(CTL)耗竭方面具有潜力。然而,许多患者在接受ICB治疗后可能会产生肿瘤上主要组织相容性复合体I类(MHC-I)表达受损的耐药性,导致向CTL的抗原呈递不足。在此,我们合理设计了一种多功能且强大的免疫调节分层纳米CRISPR转换器(SWITCH),靶向PD-L1和PCSK9基因座,以转换具有高PD-L1和低MHC-I表达的肿瘤的免疫抵抗状态,从而增强肿瘤对免疫系统的敏感性和可见性。SWITCH通过聚乙二醇化、酸触发的pH低插入肽(pHLIPs)以及透明质酸与CD44受体的相互作用,具有增强的血液循环和肿瘤靶向能力。在肿瘤细胞内透明质酸酶和异常氧化应激的辅助下,SWITCH经历酶响应性分解、电荷反转、快速溶酶体逃逸,并有效地依次破坏PD-L1和PCSK9。这种双重作用机制同时阻断PD-1/PD-L1免疫抑制,同时恢复MHC-I介导的抗原呈递,从而增强肿瘤对免疫系统的敏感性和可见性。我们的结果证明了SWITCH在抑制原发性、对侧和复发性肿瘤生长方面的显著疗效。综上所述,我们的研究为缓解肿瘤免疫抵抗和进一步增强ICB的疗效提供了一种令人鼓舞的策略。