Acetyltransferase NAT10 promotes an immunosuppressive microenvironment by modulating CD8+ T cell activity in prostate cancer.

Abstract

N-acetyltransferase 10 (NAT10), an enzyme responsible for ac4C acetylation, is implicated in cancer progression, though its specific biological function in prostate cancer remains insufficiently understood. This study clarifies NAT10's role in prostate cancer and its effects on the tumor immune microenvironment. NAT10 expression and clinical relevance were assessed through bioinformatics, RT-qPCR, and IHC analyses, comparing prostate cancer tissues with normal controls. The impact of NAT10 on tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion was investigated via in vitro assays-including CCK-8, EdU, wound healing, and 3D-Transwell-as well as in vivo mouse xenograft models and organoid studies. Further, NAT10's influence on immune cell infiltration was examined using flow cytometry, IHC, cell co-culture assays, and ELISA to elucidate downstream chemokine effects, specifically targeting CD8⁺ T cells. Findings indicated significant upregulation of NAT10 in prostate cancer cells, enhancing their proliferative and invasive capacities. Notably, NAT10 suppresses CD8⁺ T cell recruitment and cytotoxicity through the CCL25/CCR9 axis, fostering an immunosuppressive microenvironment that exacerbates tumor progression. An ac4C modification score was also devised based on NAT10's downstream targets, providing a novel predictive tool for evaluating immune infiltration and forecasting immunotherapy responses in patients with prostate cancer. This study underscores NAT10's pivotal role in modulating the prostate cancer immune microenvironment, offering insights into the immune desert phenomenon and identifying NAT10 as a promising therapeutic target for improving immunotherapy efficacy.