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Hypoxia is a common phenomenon in solid tumors and is strongly linked to hallmarks of cancer. Recent evidence has shown that hypoxia promotes local immune suppression. Type I IFN supports cytotoxic T lymphocytes by stimulating the maturation of dendritic cells and enhancing their capacity to process and present antigens. However, little is known about the relationship between hypoxia and the type I IFN pathway, which comprises the sensing of double-stranded RNA and DNA (dsRNA/dsDNA) followed by IFNα/β secretion and transcriptional activation of IFN-stimulated genes (ISG). In this study, we determined the effects of hypoxia on the type I IFN pathway in breast cancer and the mechanisms involved. In cancer cell lines and xenograft models, mRNA and protein expressions of the type I IFN pathway were downregulated under hypoxic conditions. This pathway was suppressed at each level of signaling, from the dsRNA sensors RIG-I and MDA5, the adaptor MAVS, transcription factors IRF3, IRF7, and STAT1, and several ISG including RIG-I, IRF7, STAT1, and ADAR-p150. Importantly, IFN secretion was reduced under hypoxic conditions. HIF1α- and HIF2α-mediated regulation of gene expression did not explain most of the effects. However, ATAC-seq data revealed in hypoxia that peaks with STAT1 and IRF3 motifs had decreased accessibility. Collectively, these results indicate that hypoxia leads to an overall downregulation of the type I IFN pathway due to repressed transcription and lower chromatin accessibility in an HIF1/2α-independent manner, which could contribute to immunosuppression in hypoxic tumors. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings characterize a new mechanism of immunosuppression by hypoxia via downregulation of the type I IFN pathway and its autocrine/paracrine effects on tumor growth.

Original publication

DOI

10.1158/0008-5472.can-19-2306

Type

Journal article

Journal

Cancer research

Publication Date

12/2020

Volume

80

Pages

5245 - 5256

Addresses

Department of Medical Oncology, Molecular Oncology Laboratories, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom.

Keywords

Cell Line, Tumor, Animals, Humans, Mice, Neoplasms, Breast Neoplasms, Interferon Type I, RNA, Messenger, Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays, Gene Expression Profiling, Signal Transduction, Down-Regulation, Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic, Female, Interferon Regulatory Factor-3, Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit, Single-Cell Analysis, Tumor Hypoxia