[HTML][HTML] Reversal of viral and epigenetic HLA class I repression in Merkel cell carcinoma

PC Lee, S Klaeger, PM Le, K Korthauer… - The Journal of …, 2022 - Am Soc Clin Investig
The Journal of clinical investigation, 2022Am Soc Clin Investig
Cancers avoid immune surveillance through an array of mechanisms, including perturbation
of HLA class I antigen presentation. Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive, HLA-I–
low, neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin often caused by the Merkel cell polyomavirus
(MCPyV). Through the characterization of 11 newly generated MCC patient-derived cell
lines, we identified transcriptional suppression of several class I antigen presentation genes.
To systematically identify regulators of HLA-I loss in MCC, we performed parallel, genome …
Cancers avoid immune surveillance through an array of mechanisms, including perturbation of HLA class I antigen presentation. Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive, HLA-I–low, neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin often caused by the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). Through the characterization of 11 newly generated MCC patient-derived cell lines, we identified transcriptional suppression of several class I antigen presentation genes. To systematically identify regulators of HLA-I loss in MCC, we performed parallel, genome-scale, gain- and loss-of-function screens in a patient-derived MCPyV-positive cell line and identified MYCL and the non-canonical Polycomb repressive complex 1.1 (PRC1.1) as HLA-I repressors. We observed physical interaction of MYCL with the MCPyV small T viral antigen, supporting a mechanism of virally mediated HLA-I suppression. We further identify the PRC1.1 component USP7 as a pharmacologic target to restore HLA-I expression in MCC.
The Journal of Clinical Investigation