PVRL2 Suppresses Anti-tumor Immunity Through PVRIG- and TIGIT-Independent Pathways

Abstract

PVRL2 is believed to act as an immune checkpoint protein in cancer; however, most insight into PVRL2s role is inferred from studies on its known receptor PVRIG. Here, we directly study PVRL2. PVRL2 levels are high in tumor cells and tumor-derived exosomes. Deletion of PVRL2 in multiple syngeneic mouse models of cancer shows a dramatic reduction in tumor growth that is immune dependent. This effect can be even greater than seen with deletion of PD-L1. PVRL2 functions by suppressing CD8 T and NK cells in the tumor microenvironment. Unexpectedly, the effect of PVRL2 loss on tumor growth remains in the absence of PVRIG. In contrast, PVRIG loss shows no additive effect in the absence of PVRL2. TIGIT blockade combined with PVRL2 deletion results in the greatest reduction in tumor growth. This effect is not recapitulated by the combined deletion of PVRL2 with its paralog PVR, the ligand for TIGIT. These data uncover PVRL2 as a distinct inhibitor of the anti-tumor immune response with functions beyond that of its known receptor PVRIG. Importantly, the data provide a strong rationale for combinatorial targeting of PVRL2 and TIGIT for cancer immunotherapy.