Targeting IDH2 promotes antitumor immunity through epigenetic activation of cGAS-STING pathway

Reductive carboxylation is critical for the proliferation of cancer cells and the differentiation of T cells. However, the role of this reaction in cancer cell-mediated tumor immunity remains unclear. Analysis of TCGA database showed a negative correlation between IDH2 expression and the presence of CD8⁺ T cells in lung and breast cancers, whereas IDH1 expression didn't show such a correlation. Further GSEA analysis revealed a significant enrichment of immune-related genes within IDH2-associated genes, specifically those in the type Ⅰ interferon pathway. In lung cancer cells, the depletion of IDH2 expression indeed could induce the activation of the immune-related and specially type Ⅰ interferon pathway. Targeting IDH2 with shRNA or its inhibitor AGI-6780 caused an increase in intracellular α-ketoglutarate concentration and a decrease in ATP and SAM levels, leading to a reduction in the methylation of STING promoter and elevated levels expression of STING. The increase of STING expression underlies the activation of type I interferon pathway observed in IDH2 compromised tumor cells and increased defense responses in the tumors in mice. These results identify IDH2 as a potential target to enhance cancer immune therapy.