Targeting PAK4 to reprogram the vascular microenvironment and improve CAR-T immunotherapy for glioblastoma

W Ma, Y Wang, R Zhang, F Yang, D Zhang, M Huang… - Nature cancer, 2021 - nature.com
W Ma, Y Wang, R Zhang, F Yang, D Zhang, M Huang, L Zhang, JF Dorsey, ZA Binder
Nature cancer, 2021nature.com
Malignant solid tumors are characterized by aberrant vascularity that fuels the formation of
an immune-hostile microenvironment and induces resistance to immunotherapy. Vascular
abnormalities may be driven by pro-angiogenic pathway activation and genetic
reprogramming in tumor endothelial cells (ECs). Here, our kinome-wide screening of
mesenchymal-like transcriptional activation in human glioblastoma (GBM)-derived ECs
identifies p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) as a selective regulator of genetic reprogramming …
Abstract
Malignant solid tumors are characterized by aberrant vascularity that fuels the formation of an immune-hostile microenvironment and induces resistance to immunotherapy. Vascular abnormalities may be driven by pro-angiogenic pathway activation and genetic reprogramming in tumor endothelial cells (ECs). Here, our kinome-wide screening of mesenchymal-like transcriptional activation in human glioblastoma (GBM)-derived ECs identifies p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) as a selective regulator of genetic reprogramming and aberrant vascularization. PAK4 knockout induces adhesion protein re-expression in ECs, reduces vascular abnormalities, improves T cell infiltration and inhibits GBM growth in mice. Moreover, PAK4 inhibition normalizes the tumor vascular microenvironment and sensitizes GBM to chimeric antigen receptor–T cell immunotherapy. Finally, we reveal a MEF2D/ZEB1- and SLUG-mediated mechanism by which PAK4 reprograms the EC transcriptome and downregulates claudin-14 and VCAM-1 expression, enhancing vessel permeability and reducing T cell adhesion to the endothelium. Thus, targeting PAK4-mediated EC plasticity may offer a unique opportunity to recondition the vascular microenvironment and strengthen cancer immunotherapy.
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