Csongor Váróczy

The resistance of breast cancer cells to therapeutic antibodies such as anti-HER2 trastuzumab can be overcome by engaging natural killer (NK) cells for killing antibody-binding tumor cells via antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Here, we investigated how autophagy modulation affects trastuzumab-mediated ADCC in HER2-positive JIMT1 breast cancer cells and NK cells. Autophagy inducers (rapamycin and resveratrol) had no significant impact, but the inhibitor bafilomycin nearly abolished ADCC. Protection occurred when either cancer or NK cells were pretreated, indicating dual effects. Bafilomycin reduced phosphatidylserine externalization, the loss of plasma membrane integrity, caspase-3/7 activity, and DNA fragmentation. It downregulated pro-apoptotic BAK1 and BAX without altering BCL-2. Additionally, bafilomycin decreased HER2 surface expression, impairing trastuzumab binding, and modulated immune regulators (STAT1, CD95, and PD-L1) in NK and/or in the cancer cells. Bafilomycin disrupted HER2 trafficking and induced HER2 internalization, leading to its accumulation in cytoplasmic vesicles. These findings show that autophagy inhibition by bafilomycin confers ADCC resistance by altering apoptosis, immune signaling, and HER2 dynamics. The study underscores autophagy’s role in antibody-based cancer therapy efficacy.

Cancers reprogram macrophages (MΦs) to a tumor-growth-promoting TAM (tumor-associated MΦ) phenotype that is similar to the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) enzymes regulate various aspects of MΦ biology, but their role in the development of TAM phenotype has not yet been investigated. Here, we show that the multispectral PARP inhibitor (PARPi) PJ34 and the PARP14 specific inhibitor MCD113 suppress the expression of M2 marker genes in IL-4-polarized primary murine MΦs, in THP-1 monocytic human MΦs, and in primary human monocyte-derived MΦs. MΦs isolated from PARP14 knockout mice showed a limited ability to differentiate to M2 cells. In a murine model of TAM polarization (4T1 breast carcinoma cell supernatant transfer to primary MΦs) and in a human TAM model (spheroids formed from JIMT-1 breast carcinoma cells and THP-1-MΦs), both PARPis and the PARP14 KO phenotype caused weaker TAM polarization. Increased JIMT-1 cell apoptosis in co-culture spheroids treated with PARPis suggested reduced functional TAM reprogramming. Protein profiling arrays identified lipocalin-2, macrophage migration inhibitory factor, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 as potential (ADP-ribosyl)ation-dependent mediators of TAM differentiation. Our data suggest that PARP14 inhibition might be a viable anticancer strategy with a potential to boost anticancer immune responses by reprogramming TAMs.