Manipulating mitochondrial electron flow enhances tumor immunogenicity.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
Authors
Abstract

Although tumor growth requires the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC), the relative contribution of complex I (CI) and complex II (CII), the gatekeepers for initiating electron flow, remains unclear. In this work, we report that the loss of CII, but not that of CI, reduces melanoma tumor growth by increasing antigen presentation and T cell-mediated killing. This is driven by succinate-mediated transcriptional and epigenetic activation of major histocompatibility complex-antigen processing and presentation (MHC-APP) genes independent of interferon signaling. Furthermore, knockout of methylation-controlled J protein (MCJ), to promote electron entry preferentially through CI, provides proof of concept of ETC rewiring to achieve antitumor responses without side effects associated with an overall reduction in mitochondrial respiration in noncancer cells. Our results may hold therapeutic potential for tumors that have reduced MHC-APP expression, a common mechanism of cancer immunoevasion.

Year of Publication
2023
Journal
Science (New York, N.Y.)
Volume
381
Issue
6664
Pages
1316-1323
Date Published
09/2023
ISSN
1095-9203
DOI
10.1126/science.abq1053
PubMed ID
37733872
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