Enhancing Breast Cancer Immunotherapy by Suppressing Sympathetic Nervous System-Driven T-Cell Exhaustion and Promoting T-Cell Priming and Trafficking
Immunotherapy has transformed cancer treatment, yet its efficacy in solid tumors such as breast cancer remains limited by weak T cell priming, impaired trafficking, and functional exhaustion within the tumor microenvironment. Sympathetic nervous system (SNS) hyperactivation has recently emerged as a driver of T cell exhaustion, representing a therapeutically actionable target. Here, we develop a multifunctional nanoplatform in which irradiated tumor lysate-pulsed dendritic cell (DC) membranes wrap lipid nanoparticles, enabling the codelivery of the β-adrenergic receptor blocker carvedilol and S1PR1 mRNA. These nanovesicles preferentially accumulate in tumor-draining lymph nodes, where they enhance antigen presentation and T cell priming. S1PR1 expression promotes T cell egress and trafficking, while carvedilol attenuates SNS-mediated exhaustion. In combination with PD-L1 blockade, this approach reinforced effector function in tumors, reduced tumor volume by 76%, extended median survival from 30 to 54 days, and achieved complete regression in 60% of animals. By simultaneously targeting priming, trafficking, activation, and exhaustion, this strategy provides an integrated approach to overcoming resistance in breast cancer.
Authors
- Mohd Rekaz Muddassir
- Jinbing Xie
- Lin Gao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1348-5080)
- Y. P. Li
- H. Yang
- Yini Zhu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9592-2053)
- Gaolin Liang
- Xueqing Yong
- Tingting Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1304-5294)
- Ying Zhou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4440-5192)
- Lei Dong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8869-1746)
- Xinyu Zhang
- Zhiyuan Luo
- Chanchan Gao
Institutions
- University of Macau (MO)
- Fudan University (CN)
- State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China (CN)
- King Saud University (SA)
- College of Medical Sciences (NP)
- National Institute of Measurement and Testing Technology (CN)
- Society of Interventional Radiology (US)
- Southeast University (BD)
- Shanghai Institute of Measurement and Testing Technology (CN)
- Zhongda Hospital Southeast University (CN)
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering (CN)
- Southeast University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- ACS Nano
- Published
- 2025-12-23
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.5c16178
- Primary Topic
- Cancer, Stress, Anesthesia, and Immune Response
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00