TREM2 deficiency reprograms intestinal macrophages and microbiota to enhance anti–PD-1 tumor immunotherapy

Abstract

The gut microbiota and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) affect tumor responses to anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint blockade. Reprogramming TAM by either blocking or deleting the macrophage receptor triggering receptor on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) attenuates tumor growth, and lack of functional TREM2 enhances tumor elimination by anti-PD-1. Here, we found that anti-PD-1 treatment combined with TREM2 deficiency in mice induces proinflammatory programs in intestinal macrophages and a concomitant expansion of <i>Ruminococcus gnavus</i> in the gut microbiota. Gavage of wild-type mice with <i>R. gnavus</i> enhanced anti-PD-1-mediated tumor elimination, recapitulating the effect occurring in the absence of TREM2. A proinflammatory intestinal environment coincided with expansion, increased circulation, and migration of TNF-producing CD4⁺ T cells to the tumor bed. Thus, TREM2 remotely controls anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade through modulation of the intestinal immune environment and microbiota, with <i>R. gnavus</i> emerging as a potential probiotic agent for increasing responsiveness to anti-PD-1.