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The AURKA inhibitor alters the immune microenvironment and enhances targeting B7-H3 immunotherapy in glioblastoma
Jinqiu Liu, Yuxuan Deng, Zhuonan Pu, Yazhou Miao, Zhaonian Hao, Herui Wang, Shaodong Zhang, Hanjie Liu, Jiejun Wang, Yifan Lv, Boyi Hu, Hong Wan, Zhengping Zhuang, Tai Sun, Shuyu Hao, Nan Ji, Jie Feng
Jinqiu Liu, Yuxuan Deng, Zhuonan Pu, Yazhou Miao, Zhaonian Hao, Herui Wang, Shaodong Zhang, Hanjie Liu, Jiejun Wang, Yifan Lv, Boyi Hu, Hong Wan, Zhengping Zhuang, Tai Sun, Shuyu Hao, Nan Ji, Jie Feng
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Research Article Oncology Therapeutics

The AURKA inhibitor alters the immune microenvironment and enhances targeting B7-H3 immunotherapy in glioblastoma

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Abstract

Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most lethal adult brain tumors with limited effective therapeutic options. Immunotherapy targeting B7-H3 (CD276) has shown promising efficacy in the treatment of gliomas. However, the response to this treatment varies among glioma patients due to individual differences. It’s necessary to find an effective strategy to improve the efficacy of targeting B7-H3 immunotherapy for nonresponders. In this study, we demonstrated a strong correlation between aurora kinase A (AURKA) and CD276 expression in glioma tissue samples. Additionally, both AURKA knockdown and overexpression resulted in parallel changes in B7-H3 expression levels in glioma cells. Mechanistically, AURKA elevated B7-H3 expression by promoting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) phosphorylation, which was validated in glioma cell lines and primary GBM cells. What’s more, the combination of AURKA inhibitor (alisertib) and anti–B7-H3 antibody markedly reduced tumor size and promoted CD8+ T cell infiltration and activation in mouse orthotopic syngeneic glioma models. To our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate AURKA-mediated B7-H3 upregulation in glioma cells; moreover, it proposes a promising therapeutic strategy combining the AURKA inhibitor alisertib with B7-H3–specific blocking mAbs.

Authors

Jinqiu Liu, Yuxuan Deng, Zhuonan Pu, Yazhou Miao, Zhaonian Hao, Herui Wang, Shaodong Zhang, Hanjie Liu, Jiejun Wang, Yifan Lv, Boyi Hu, Hong Wan, Zhengping Zhuang, Tai Sun, Shuyu Hao, Nan Ji, Jie Feng

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Figure 9

The combination of alisertib with an anti–B7-H3 mAb increases CD8+ T cell infiltration and activation.

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The combination of alisertib with an anti–B7-H3 mAb increases CD8+ T cel...
(A) A panel of immune markers in orthotopic G261 tumors from the anti-IgG, alisertib + anti-IgG, and alisertib + anti–B7-H3 groups were detected via immunofluorescence analysis, and the quantifications are shown on the below (n = 3/group). The T cell markers are CD3, CD4, CD8, and Foxp3. (B) Perforin and granzyme B in orthotopic G261 tumors from the anti-IgG, alisertib + anti-IgG, and alisertib + anti–B7-H3 groups were detected via IHC analysis, and the quantifications are shown on the below (n = 3/group). (C and D) A panel of immune markers in orthotopic G261 tumors from the anti-IgG, alisertib + anti-IgG, and alisertib + anti–B7-H3 groups were detected via immunofluorescence analysis, and the data are presented on the below (n = 3/group). The following markers of macrophages were used: CD68, iNOS, and ARG1. Statistical significance was assessed via 1-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple-comparison test (A–D). The data are presented as the mean ± SD (A–D). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001. Scale bars: 50 µm.

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