Interplay between ATRX and IDH1 mutations governs innate immune responses in diffuse gliomas

Abstract

Stimulating the innate immune system has been explored as a therapeutic option for the treatment of gliomas. Inactivating mutations in ATRX, defining molecular alterations in IDH-mutant astrocytomas, have been implicated in dysfunctional immune signaling. However, little is known about the interplay between ATRX loss and IDH mutation on innate immunity. To explore this, we generated ATRX knockout glioma models in the presence and absence of the IDH1R132H mutation. ATRX-deficient glioma cells were sensitive to dsRNA-based innate immune agonism and exhibited impaired lethality and increased T-cell infiltration in vivo. However, the presence of IDH1R132Hdampened baseline expression of key innate immune genes and cytokines in a manner restored by genetic and pharmacological IDH1R132H inhibition. IDH1R132H co-expression did not interfere with the ATRX KO-mediated sensitivity to dsRNA. Thus, ATRX loss primes cells for recognition of dsRNA, while IDH1R132H reversibly masks this priming. This work reveals innate immunity as a therapeutic vulnerability of astrocytoma.