Hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 is a negative regulator of dendritic cell activation

Hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 (HPK1) is a hematopoietic cell-restricted member of the Ste20 kinases that acts as a negative regulator of T cell functions through the AP-1, NFAT, and NFkappaB pathways. Using HPK1-deficient (HPK1(-/-)) mice, we report in this study a novel role for HPK1 in dendritic cells (DCs). Specifically, we observed that matured HPK1(-/-) bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs) are superior to their wild-type (WT) counterpart in stimulating T cell proliferation in vivo and in vitro. Several characteristics of HPK1(-/-) BMDCs may account for this enhanced activity: Matured HPK1(-/-) BMDCs express higher levels of costimulatory molecules CD80, CD86, and I-A(b) as well as produce more proinflammatory cytokines IL-12, IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 than their WT littermates. The role of HPK1 as a proapoptotic molecule was assessed post activation with LPS, and results indicated that HPK1(-/-) BMDCs are significantly resistant to LPS-induced apoptosis. Our results led us to investigate the role of HPK1(-/-) BMDCs in tumor immunotherapy. Using a s.c. murine model of Lewis Lung Carcinoma, we found that HPK1(-/-) BMDCs eliminate established s.c. Lewis Lung Carcinoma more efficiently than their WT counterpart. Our data reveal a novel role for HPK1 as a negative regulator of DC functions, identifying its potential as a molecular target for DC-based immunotherapy against cancers.