IL-16 promotes anti-tumor immunity via establishing a Th1-dominant tumor microenvironment [RNA-seq]

Overcoming immunosuppression in tumor microenvironment (TME) is fundamental to the development of novel cancer immunotherapies. Herein, we revealed an unrecognized role of IL-16 in shaping anti-tumor immunity. Compared with healthy subjects, cancer patients had impaired production of IL-16, which was correlated with inferior patient prognosis. In multiple murine cancer models, IL-16 administration augmented the anti-tumor immune responses and thus restrained tumor growth. Mechanistically, IL-16 potentiated the polarization of T helper 1 (Th1) cells and the production of their effector cytokine IFN-γ, Mechanistically, IL-16 blocked glutamine catabolism by downregulating glutaminase (GLS) expression in CD4+ T cells. The IL-16-established Th1 tumor microenvironment further increased the expression of CXCR3 ligands in tumor-associated macrophages, which improved the therapeutic efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). In cancer patients who received anti-PD1 therapy, high IL-16 levels correlated with better responsiveness. Finally, we found that the impaired production of histamine by mast cells was a causative factor for IL-16 downregulation in TME. Thus, IL-16 administration may serve as a potential approach to augment anti-tumor immunity, and also improve the outcome of ICB therapy in cancer patients. Collectively, we provided new insights into the biological function of IL-16 and thus highlighted its potential clinical value in cancer immunotherapy.