The balance between antioxidants and reactive oxygen species (ROS) critically regulates tumor initiation and progression. However, whether and how the tumor-favoring redox status is controlled by cytokine networks remain poorly defined. Here, it is shown that IL-36 gamma and IL-36Ra reciprocally regulate the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by modulating glutathione metabolism and ROS resolution. Knockout, inhibition, or neutralization of IL-36 gamma significantly inhibits NSCLC progression and prolongs survival of the Kras(LSL-G12D/+)Tp53(fl/fl) and Kras(LSL-G12D/+)Lkb1(fl/fl) mice after tumor induction, whereas knockout of IL-36Ra exacerbates tumorigenesis in these NSCLC mouse models and accelerates death of mice. Mechanistically, IL-36 gamma directly upregulates an array of genes involved in glutathione homeostasis to reduce ROS and prevent oxidative stress-induced cell death, which is mitigated by IL-36Ra or IL-36 gamma neutralizing antibody. Consistently, IL-36 gamma staining is positively and negatively correlated with glutathione biosynthesis and ROS in human NSCLC tumor biopsies, respectively. These findings highlight essential roles of cytokine networks in redox for tumorigenesis and provide potential therapeutic strategy for NSCLC.
基金:
National Key Research and Development Program of China [2018TFE0204500, 2018YFC1004601]; Natural Science Foundation of China [31930040, 32070900]; Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities [2042020kf0207, 2042020kf0042]; National Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province [2020CFA015]; Medical Science Advancement Program (Basic Medical Sciences) of Wuhan University [TFJC2018004]; Youth Innovation Promotion Association of CAS [2019328]; Non-Profit Central Research Institute Fund of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences [2020-PT320-004]