An innovative NRF2 nano-modulator induces lung cancer ferroptosis and elicits an immunostimulatory tumor microenvironment

Chih Hsiung Hsieh, Hung Chia Hsieh, Fu Shiuan Shih, Pei Wen Wang, Li Xing Yang, Dar Bin Shieh, Yi Ching Wang

研究成果: Article同行評審

46 引文 斯高帕斯(Scopus)

摘要

Simultaneous targeting of both the tumor microenvironment and cancer cells by a single nanomedicine has not been reported to date. Here, we report the dual properties of zero-valent-iron nanoparticle (ZVI-NP) to induce cancer-specific cytotoxicity and anti-cancer immunity. Methods: Cancer-specific cytotoxicity induced by ZVI-NP was determined by MTT assay. Mitochondria functional assay, immunofluorescence staining, Western blot, RT-qPCR, and ChIP-qPCR assays were used to dissect the mechanism underlying ZVI-NP-induced ferroptotic cancer cell death. The therapeutic potential of ZVI-NP was evaluated in immunocompetent mice and humanized mice. Immune cell profiles of allografts and ex vivo cultured immune cells were examined by flow cytometry analysis, RT-qPCR assay, and immunofluorescence. Results: ZVI-NP caused mitochondria dysfunction, intracellular oxidative stress, and lipid peroxidation, leading to ferroptotic death of lung cancer cells. Degradation of NRF2 by GSK3/-TrCP through AMPK/mTOR activation was enhanced in such cancer-specific ferroptosis. In addition, ZVI-NP attenuated self-renewal ability of cancer and downregulated angiogenesis-related genes. Importantly, ZVI-NP augmented anti-Tumor immunity by shifting pro-Tumor M2 macrophages to anti-Tumor M1, decreasing the population of regulatory T cells, downregulating PD-1 and CTLA4 in CD8+ T cells to potentiate their cytolytic activity against cancer cells, while attenuating PD-L1 expression in cancer cells in vitro and in tumor-bearing immunocompetent mice. In particular, ZVI-NPs preferentially accumulated in tumor and lung tissues, leading to prominent suppression of tumor growth and metastasis. Conclusions: This dual-functional nanomedicine established an effective strategy to synergistically induce ferroptotic cancer cell death and reprogram the immunosuppressive microenvironment, which highlights the potential of ZVI-NP as an advanced integrated anti-cancer strategy.

原文English
頁(從 - 到)7072-7091
頁數20
期刊Theranostics
11
發行號14
DOIs
出版狀態Published - 2021

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • 醫藥(雜項)
  • 藥理學、毒理學和藥劑學(雜項)

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