PI3Kγ stimulates a high molecular weight form of myosin light chain kinase to promote myeloid cell adhesion and tumor inflammation

Michael C. Schmid, Sang Won Kang, Hui Chen, Marc Paradise, Anghesom Ghebremedhin, Megan M. Kaneda, Shao Ming Chin, Anh Do, D. Martin Watterson, Judith A. Varner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Myeloid cells play key roles in cancer immune suppression and tumor progression. In response to tumor derived factors, circulating monocytes and granulocytes extravasate into the tumor parenchyma where they stimulate angiogenesis, immune suppression and tumor progression. Chemokines, cytokines and interleukins stimulate PI3Kγ-mediated Rap1 activation, leading to conformational changes in integrin α4β1 that promote myeloid cell extravasation and tumor inflammation Here we show that PI3Kγ activates a high molecular weight form of myosin light chain kinase, MLCK210, that promotes myosin-dependent Rap1 GTP loading, leading to integrin α4β1 activation. Genetic or pharmacological inhibition of MLCK210 suppresses integrin α4β1 activation, as well as tumor inflammation and progression. These results demonstrate a critical role for myeloid cell MLCK210 in tumor inflammation and serve as basis for the development of alternative approaches to develop immune oncology therapeutics.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1768
JournalNature Communications
Volume13
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2022

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© 2022, The Author(s).

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