0

A Bioorthogonal System Reveals Antitumour Immune Function of Pyroptosis

Qinyang Wang, Yupeng Wang, Jingjin Ding, Chunhong Wang, Xuehan Zhou, Wenqing Gao, Huanwei Huang, Feng Shao, Zhibo Liu

Nature. 2020 Mar;579(7799):421-426.

PMID: 32188939

Abstract:

Bioorthogonal chemistry capable of operating in live animals is needed to investigate biological processes such as cell death and immunity. Recent studies have identified a gasdermin family of pore-forming proteins that executes inflammasome-dependent and -independent pyroptosis1-5. Pyroptosis is proinflammatory, but its effect on antitumour immunity is unknown. Here we establish a bioorthogonal chemical system, in which a cancer-imaging probe phenylalanine trifluoroborate (Phe-BF3) that can enter cells desilylates and 'cleaves' a designed linker that contains a silyl ether. This system enabled the controlled release of a drug from an antibody-drug conjugate in mice. When combined with nanoparticle-mediated delivery, desilylation catalysed by Phe-BF3 could release a client protein-including an active gasdermin-from a nanoparticle conjugate, selectively into tumour cells in mice. We applied this bioorthogonal system to gasdermin, which revealed that pyroptosis of less than 15% of tumour cells was sufficient to clear the entire 4T1 mammary tumour graft. The tumour regression was absent in immune-deficient mice or upon T cell depletion, and was correlated with augmented antitumour immune responses. The injection of a reduced, ineffective dose of nanoparticle-conjugated gasdermin along with Phe-BF3 sensitized 4T1 tumours to anti-PD1 therapy. Our bioorthogonal system based on Phe-BF3 desilylation is therefore a powerful tool for chemical biology; our application of this system suggests that pyroptosis-induced inflammation triggers robust antitumour immunity and can synergize with checkpoint blockade.

Chemicals Related in the Paper:

Catalog Number Product Name Structure CAS Number Price
AP1268340959 (Thiomorpholinium-4-ylmethyl)trifluoroborate (Thiomorpholinium-4-ylmethyl)trifluoroborate 1268340-95-9 Price
qrcode