UBC9 deficiency enhances immunostimulatory macrophage activation and subsequent antitumor T cell response in prostate cancer.

The role of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) along with the regulatory mechanisms underlying distinct macrophage activation states remain poorly understood in prostate cancer (PCa). Herein, we reported that PCa growth in macrophage-specific Ubc9 deficient mice is substantially suppressed compared to their wild-type littermates, an effect partially ascribed to the augmented CD8+ T cell response. Biochemical and molecular analyses revealed that the signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) is a crucial UBC9-mediated SUMOylation target, with lysine residue 350 (K350) as the major modification site. Site-directed mutation of STAT4 (K350R) enhanced its nuclear translocation and stability, thereby facilitating the proinflammatory activation of macrophages. Importantly, administration of UBC9 inhibitor, 2-D08, promoted the antitumor effect of TAMs and increased the expression of PD-1 on CD8+ T cells, supporting a synergistic antitumor efficacy once it combined with the immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. Together, our results demonstrated that ablation of UBC9 could reverse the immunosuppressive phenotype of TAMs via promoting STAT4 mediated macrophage activation and macrophage-CD8+ T cell crosstalk, which provides valuable insights to halt the pathogenic process of tumorigenesis.