Targeting STING Signalling Polarizes Tumor-Associated Neutrophils to Boost Anticancer and Abscopal Antimetastatic Functions.

Abstract

Introduction: The stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway has emerged as a promising target for cancer immunotherapy. Tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) are underrated among the cells involved in STING-targeted therapies. The polarization state of TANs divides them into antitumor N1 and tumor-supportive N2 TANs. Our purpose was to assess whether STING activation stimulates the repolarization of TANs toward the N1 subtype and to investigate the potential participation of TANs in metastasis and macrophage polarization processes.

Methods: This research was carried out on murine B16-F10 melanoma and 4T1 breast carcinomas. Flow cytometry, immunofluorescence microscopy, and multiplex immunoassay were used to assess the phenotype of TANs. Magnetic cell sorting was employed to assess the cytotoxic potential of TANs. The spontaneous 4T1 lung metastasis model enabled assessment of the impact of primary tumor targeting with STING agonist on the inhibition of metastasis and lung immune landscape changes. To verify the influence of in vivo cGAMP-activated TANs on the macrophages phenotype, the co-culture experiments of bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) and TANs were conducted.

Results: In both types of tumors, STING targeting converted TANs polarization state toward anticancer N1 subtype, marked by an increase in ICAM-1, CD69, Fas, CXCL10, TNFα, CCL3 expression, and a decrease in VEGF. Targeting STING induced a cytotoxicity of TANs against 4T1 cancer cells, while neutrophils masking revealed their importance for the maintenance of health conditions. Treatment of primary 4T1 tumors resulted in inhibition of metastasis and conversion of lung immune cells toward an anticancer phenotype. Direct co-cultivation of TANs derived from cGAMP-treated tumors with BMDM polarized them toward M1-like cells.

Conclusion: Targeting STING provides polarization of TANs phenotype toward anticancer N1 subtype. Obtained data fills the gaps in the knowledge of the impact of STING-activating therapy on TANs functions, participation in the metastasis process, and acquisition of M1 phenotype by macrophages.