A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

TIMP-1 is an activator of MHC-I expression in myeloid dendritic cells with implications for tumor immunogenicity




AuthorsLangguth Miriam, Maranou Eleftheria, Koskela Saara A., Elenius Oskar, Kallionpää Roosa E., Birkman Eva-Maria, Pulkkinen Otto I., Sundvall Maria, Salmi Marko, Figueiredo Carlos R.

PublisherSpringer Nature

Publication year2024

JournalGenes and Immunity

Journal name in sourceGenes and immunity

Journal acronymGenes Immun

Volume25

Issue3

First page 188

Last page200

ISSN1466-4879

eISSN1476-5470

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41435-024-00274-7

Web address https://doi.org/10.1038/s41435-024-00274-7

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/421367232


Abstract
Immune checkpoint therapies (ICT) for advanced solid tumors mark a new milestone in cancer therapy. Yet their efficacy is often limited by poor immunogenicity, attributed to inadequate priming and generation of antitumor T cells by dendritic cells (DCs). Identifying biomarkers to enhance DC functions in such tumors is thus crucial. Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1), recognized for its influence on immune cells, has an underexplored relationship with DCs. Our research reveals a correlation between high TIMP1 levels in metastatic melanoma and increased CD8 + T cell infiltration and survival. Network studies indicate a functional connection with HLA genes. Spatial transcriptomic analysis of a national melanoma cohort revealed that TIMP1 expression in immune compartments associates with an HLA-A/MHC-I peptide loading signature in lymph nodes. Primary human and bone-marrow-derived DCs secrete TIMP-1, which notably increases MHC-I expression in classical type 1 dendritic cells (cDC1), especially under melanoma antigen exposure. TIMP-1 affects the immunoproteasome/TAP complex, as seen by upregulated PSMB8 and TAP-1 levels of myeloid DCs. This study uncovers the role of TIMP-1 in DC-mediated immunogenicity with insights into CD8 + T cell activation, providing a foundation for mechanistic exploration and highlighting its potential as a new target for combinatorial immunotherapy to enhance ICT effectiveness.

Downloadable publication

This is an electronic reprint of the original article.
This reprint may differ from the original in pagination and typographic detail. Please cite the original version.





Last updated on 2025-14-03 at 14:51