YTHDF2 orchestrates tumor-associated macrophage reprogramming and controls antitumor immunity through CD8+ T cells

Abstract

Despite tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) playing a key role in shaping the tumor microenvironment (TME), the mechanisms by which TAMs influence the TME and contribute to cancer progression remain unclear. Here, we show that the N⁶-methyladenosine reader YTHDF2 regulates the antitumor functions of TAMs. YTHDF2 deficiency in TAMs suppressed tumor growth by reprogramming TAMs toward an antitumoral phenotype and increasing their antigen cross-presentation ability, which in turn enhanced CD8⁺ T cell-mediated antitumor immunity. YTHDF2 deficiency facilitated the reprogramming of TAMs by targeting interferon-γ-STAT1 signaling. The expression of YTHDF2 in TAMs was regulated by interleukin-10-STAT3 signaling. Selectively targeting YTHDF2 in TAMs using a Toll-like receptor 9 agonist-conjugated small interfering RNA reprogrammed TAMs toward an antitumoral phenotype, restrained tumor growth and enhanced the efficacy of PD-L1 antibody therapy. Collectively, our findings describe the role of YTHDF2 in orchestrating TAMs and suggest that YTHDF2 inhibition is an effective approach to enhance cancer immunotherapy.