NDR1 mediates PD-L1 deubiquitination to promote prostate cancer immune escape via USP10

Abstract

Abstract Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common male genitourinary system malignancies. The reasons for the poor therapeutic efficacy of anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in PCa, despite its significant benefits in other cancers, are unclear. NDR1 plays an important role in innate immunity, but its role in tumor immunity and immunotherapy has not been investigated. The role of NDR1 in the immune microenvironment of PCa and the related mechanisms are unknown. Here, we found a positive correlation between NDR1 and PD-L1 expression in PCa. NDR1 significantly inhibited CD8 + T cell infiltration and function and promoted PCa immune escape. More importantly, NDR1 inhibition significantly enhanced CD8 + T cell activation, which enhanced the therapeutic effect of anti-PD-L1. Mechanistic studies revealed that NDR1 inhibits ubiquitination-mediated PD-L1 degradation via the deubiquitinase USP10, upregulates PD-L1, and promotes PCa immune escape. Thus, our study suggests a unique PD-L1 regulatory mechanism underlying PCa immunotherapy failure. The significance of NDR1 in PCa immune escape and its mechanism of action were clarified, and combined NDR1/PD-L1 inhibition was suggested as an approach to boost PCa immunotherapy effectiveness.