Targeting IRG1 reverses the immunosuppressive function of tumor-associated macrophages and enhances cancer immunotherapy

Abstract

Immune-responsive gene 1 (IRG1) encodes aconitate decarboxylase (ACOD1) that catalyzes the production of itaconic acids (ITAs). The anti-inflammatory function of IRG1/ITA has been established in multiple pathogen models, but very little is known in cancer. Here, we show that IRG1 is expressed in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in both human and mouse tumors. Mechanistically, tumor cells induce <i>Irg1</i> expression in macrophages by activating NF-κB pathway, and ITA produced by ACOD1 inhibits TET DNA dioxygenases to dampen the expression of inflammatory genes and the infiltration of CD8⁺ T cells into tumor sites. Deletion of <i>Irg1</i> in mice suppresses the growth of multiple tumor types and enhances the efficacy of anti-PD-(L)1 immunotherapy. Our study provides a proof of concept that ACOD1 is a potential target for immune-oncology drugs and <i>IRG1</i>-deficient macrophages represent a potent cell therapy strategy for cancer treatment even in pancreatic tumors that are resistant to T cell-based immunotherapy.