Targeting autophagy in cancer cells and in the tumor microenvironment are current goals of cancer therapy. However, components of canonical autophagy play roles in other biological processes, adding ...complexity to this goal. One such alternative function of autophagy proteins is LC3-associated phagocytosis (LAP), which functions in phagosome maturation and subsequent signaling events. Here, we show that impairment of LAP in the myeloid compartment, rather than canonical autophagy, induces control of tumor growth by tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) upon phagocytosis of dying tumor cells. Single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis revealed that defects in LAP induce pro-inflammatory gene expression and trigger STING-mediated type I interferon responses in TAM. We found that the anti-tumor effects of LAP impairment require tumor-infiltrating T cells, dependent upon STING and the type I interferon response. Therefore, autophagy proteins in the myeloid cells of the tumor microenvironment contribute to immune suppression of T lymphocytes by effecting LAP.
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•LAP occurs as dead cells are engulfed in the tumor microenvironment•TAM lacking LAP display M1 characteristics and compromise tumors•TAM lacking LAP engage STING-dependent type I IFN production•TAM lacking LAP promote anti-tumor T cell responses
Impairment of LC3-associated phagocytosis in myeloid cells of the tumor microenvironment has anti-tumor effects.
The expression of some proteins in the autophagy pathway declines with age, which may impact neurodegeneration in diseases, including Alzheimer’s Disease. We have identified a novel non-canonical ...function of several autophagy proteins in the conjugation of LC3 to Rab5+, clathrin+ endosomes containing β-amyloid in a process of LC3-associated endocytosis (LANDO). We found that LANDO in microglia is a critical regulator of immune-mediated aggregate removal and microglial activation in a murine model of AD. Mice lacking LANDO but not canonical autophagy in the myeloid compartment or specifically in microglia have a robust increase in pro-inflammatory cytokine production in the hippocampus and increased levels of neurotoxic β-amyloid. This inflammation and β-amyloid deposition were associated with reactive microgliosis and tau hyperphosphorylation. LANDO-deficient AD mice displayed accelerated neurodegeneration, impaired neuronal signaling, and memory deficits. Our data support a protective role for LANDO in microglia in neurodegenerative pathologies resulting from β-amyloid deposition.
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•LC3-associated endocytosis (LANDO) requires Rubicon and ATG5, but not FIP200•LANDO is required for recycling of Aβ receptors including TREM2 in microglia.•LANDO confers protection against Aβ deposition and murine Alzheimer’s disease (AD)•Microglial LANDO protects against neuronal loss and memory impairment in murine AD
An LC3-associated endocytosis pathway involved in the recycling of amyloid receptors is essential for the clearance of amyloid aggregates by microglia in a model of AD
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