[HTML][HTML] IL-6/JAK1 pathway drives PD-L1 Y112 phosphorylation to promote cancer immune evasion

LC Chan, CW Li, W Xia, JM Hsu… - The Journal of …, 2019 - Am Soc Clin Investig
LC Chan, CW Li, W Xia, JM Hsu, HH Lee, JH Cha, HL Wang, WH Yang, EY Yen, WC Chang
The Journal of clinical investigation, 2019Am Soc Clin Investig
Glycosylation of immune receptors and ligands, such as T cell receptor and coinhibitory
molecules, regulates immune signaling activation and immune surveillance. However, how
oncogenic signaling initiates glycosylation of coinhibitory molecules to induce
immunosuppression remains unclear. Here we show that IL-6–activated JAK1
phosphorylates programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) Tyr112, which recruits the endoplasmic
reticulum–associated N-glycosyltransferase STT3A to catalyze PD-L1 glycosylation and …
Glycosylation of immune receptors and ligands, such as T cell receptor and coinhibitory molecules, regulates immune signaling activation and immune surveillance. However, how oncogenic signaling initiates glycosylation of coinhibitory molecules to induce immunosuppression remains unclear. Here we show that IL-6–activated JAK1 phosphorylates programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) Tyr112, which recruits the endoplasmic reticulum–associated N-glycosyltransferase STT3A to catalyze PD-L1 glycosylation and maintain PD-L1 stability. Targeting of IL-6 by IL-6 antibody induced synergistic T cell killing effects when combined with anti–T cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 (anti–Tim-3) therapy in animal models. A positive correlation between IL-6 and PD-L1 expression was also observed in hepatocellular carcinoma patient tumor tissues. These results identify a mechanism regulating PD-L1 glycosylation initiation and suggest the combination of anti–IL-6 and anti–Tim-3 as an effective marker-guided therapeutic strategy.
The Journal of Clinical Investigation