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High NEK2 expression in myeloid progenitors suppresses T cell immunity in multiple myeloma
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

High NEK2 expression in myeloid progenitors suppresses T cell immunity in multiple myeloma

Yan Cheng, Fumou Sun, Daisy V. Alapat, Visanu Wanchai, David Mery, Wancheng Guo, Huojun Cao, Yuqi Zhu, Cody Ashby, Michael Anton Bauer, …
Cell reports. Medicine, Vol.4(10), 101214
10/2023
DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101214
PMCID: PMC10591052
PMID: 37794587
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101214View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Multiple myeloma (MM) growth is supported by an immune-tolerant bone marrow microenvironment. Here, we find that loss of Never in mitosis gene A (NIMA)-related kinase 2 (NEK2) in tumor microenvironmental cells is associated with MM growth suppression. The absence of NEK2 leads to both fewer tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and inhibitory T cells. NEK2 expression in myeloid progenitor cells promotes the generation of functional TAMs when stimulated with MM conditional medium. Clinically, high NEK2 expression in MM cells is associated with increased CD8+ T effector memory cells, while low NEK2 is associated with an IFN-γ gene signature and activated T cell response. Inhibition of NEK2 upregulates PD-L1 expression in MM cells and myeloid cells. In a mouse model, the combination of NEK2 inhibitor INH154 with PD-L1 blockade effectively eliminates MM cells and prolongs survival. Our results provide strong evidence that NEK2 inhibition may overcome tumor immune escape and support its further clinical development.

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