Loss of PARP7 Increases Type I Interferon Signaling in EO771 Breast Cancer Cells and Prevents Mammary Tumor Growth by Increasing Antitumor Immunity

Abstract

PARP7 is a member of the ADP-ribosyltransferase diphtheria toxin-like (ARTD) family and acts as a repressor of type I interferon (IFN) signaling. PARP7 inhibition causes tumor regression by enhancing antitumor immunity, which is dependent on the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway, TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) activity, and cytotoxic CD8+ T cells. To better understand PARP7′s role in cancer, we generated and characterized PARP7 knockout (Parp7KO) EO771 mouse mammary cancer cells in vitro and in a preclinical syngeneic tumor model using catalytic mutant Parp7H532A mice. Loss of PARP7 expression or inhibition of its activity increased type I IFN signaling, as well as the levels of interferon-stimulated gene factor 3 (ISGF3) and specifically unphosphorylated-ISGF3 regulated target genes. This was partly because PARP7′s modification of the RelA subunit of nuclear factor κ-B (NF-κB). PARP7 loss had no effect on tumor growth in immunodeficient mice. In contrast, injection of wildtype cells into Parp7H532A mice resulted in smaller tumors compared with cells injected into Parp7+/+ mice. Parp7H532A mice injected with Parp7KO cells failed to develop tumors and those that developed regressed. Our data highlight the importance of PARP7 in the immune cells and further support targeting PARP7 for anticancer therapy.