Uptake of lipids from ascites drives NK cell metabolic dysfunction in ovarian cancer
High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) remains an urgent unmet clinical need, with more than 70% of patients presenting with metastatic disease. Many patients develop large volumes of ascites, which promotes metastasis and is associated with poor therapeutic response and survival. Immunotherapy trials have shown limited success, highlighting the need to better understand HGSOC immunology. Here, we analyzed cytotoxic lymphocytes [natural killer (NK), T, and innate T cells] from patients with HGSOC and observed widespread dysfunction across primary and metastatic sites. Although nutrient rich, ascites was immunosuppressive for all lymphocyte subsets. NK cell dysfunction was driven by uptake of polar lipids, with associated dysregulation in lipid storage. Phosphatidylcholine was a key immunosuppressive metabolite, disrupting NK cell membrane order and cytotoxicity. Blocking lipid uptake through SR-B1 protected NK cell antitumor functions in ascites. These findings offer insights into immune suppression in HGSOC and have important implications for the design of future immunotherapies.
Authors
- Karen Slattery (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9001-8866)
- Edward Corry
- Rafael J. Argüello (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9785-3883)
- Eimear Mylod (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7324-1732)
- Kate Glennon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3482-2419)
- Marcia C. Haigis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2530-2681)
- Donal J. Brennan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6747-3342)
- Cong-Hui Yao
- John Scanlan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9559-4731)
- Barry Scott (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8841-3525)
- Gavin McManus (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8594-1229)
- Lydia Lynch (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4273-4681)
- Katie O’Brien (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5247-561X)
- Clair M. Gardiner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5643-9432)
- Orla McGowan
- Martin Brennan
- Joseph M. Crowley
- Ann Treacy
Institutions
- University College Dublin (IE)
- Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Harvard University (US)
- Inserm (FR)
- Princeton University (US)
- Trinity College Dublin (IE)
- Mater Misericordiae University Hospital (IE)
- Boston VA Research Institute (US)
- Centre d’Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy (FR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Science Immunology
- Published
- 2025-05-09
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1126/sciimmunol.adr4795
- Citations
- 15
- Primary Topic
- Immune Cell Function and Interaction
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 11.96