Falcinelli, M, Al-Hity, G, Baron, S, Mampay, M, Allen, M C, Samuels, M, Jones, W, Cilibrasi, C, Flaherty, R L, Giamas, G, Thaker, P H and Flint, M S (2023) Propranolol reduces IFN-γ driven PD-L1 immunosuppression and improves anti-tumour immunity in ovarian cancer. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 110. pp. 1-12. ISSN 0889-1591

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Abstract

The immune system plays an important role in controlling epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). EOC is considered to be a "cold tumour," a tumour that has not triggered a strong response by the immune system. However, tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and the expression of programmed cell death ligand (PD-L1) are used as prognostic indicators in EOC. Immunotherapy such as PD-(L)1 inhibitors have shown limited benefit in EOC. Since the immune system is affected by behavioural stress and the beta-adrenergic signalling pathway, this study aimed to explore the impact of propranolol (PRO), a beta-blocker, on anti-tumour immunity in both in vitro and in vivo EOC models. Noradrenaline (NA), an adrenergic agonist, did not directly regulate PD-L1 expression but PD-L1 was significantly upregulated by IFN-γ in EOC cell lines. IFN-γ also increased PD-L1 on extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by ID8 cells. PRO significantly decreased IFN-γ levels in primary immune cells activated ex vivo and showed increased viability of the CD8+ cell population in an EV-immune cell co-incubation. In addition, PRO reverted PD-L1 upregulation and significantly decreased IL-10 levels in an immune-cancer cell co-culture. Chronic behavioural stress increased metastasis in mice while PRO monotherapy and the combo of PRO and PD-(L)1 inhibitor significantly decreased stress-induced metastasis. The combined therapy also reduced tumour weight compared to the cancer control group and induced anti-tumour T-cell responses with significant CD8 expression in tumour tissues. In conclusion, PRO showed a modulation of the cancer immune response by decreasing IFN-γ production and, in turn, IFN-γ-mediated PD-L1 overexpression. The combined therapy of PRO and PD-(L)1 inhibitor decreased metastasis and improved anti-tumour immunity offering a promising new therapy.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	PD-(L)1 inhibitor, ovarian cancer, propranolol, stress
Schools and Departments:	School of Life Sciences > Biochemistry
SWORD Depositor:	Mx Elements Account
Depositing User:	Mx Elements Account
Date Deposited:	22 Feb 2023 08:45
Last Modified:	22 Feb 2023 09:00
URI:	http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/110826

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