Adenosine-Deaminase-Acting-on-RNA-1 Facilitates T-cell Migration toward Human Melanoma Cells

The effect of tumor/T-cell interactions on subsequent immune infiltration is undefined. Here, we report that preexposure of melanoma cells to cognate T cells enhanced the chemotaxis of new T cells in vitro. The effect was HLA class I-restricted and IFNy-dependent, as it was abolished by (32M-knockdown, MHC-blocking antibodies, JAK1 inhibitors, JAK1-silencing and IFNgR1-blocking antibodies. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of 73 melanoma metastases showed a significant correlation between the interferon-inducible p150 isoform of adenosine-deaminase-acting-on-RNA-1 (ADAR1) enzyme and immune infiltration. Consistent with this, cocultures of cognate melanoma/T-cell pairs led to IFNy-dependent induction of ADAR1-p150 in the melanoma cells, as visualized in situ using dynamic cell blocks, in ovo using fertilized chick eggs, and in vitro with Western blots. ADAR1 staining and RNA-seq in patient - derived biopsies following immunotherapy showed a rise in ADAR1-p150 expression concurrently with CD8 thorn cell infiltration and clinical response. Silencing ADAR1-p150 abolished the IFNy-driven enhanced T-cell migration, confirming its mechanistic role. Silencing and overexpression of the constitutive isoform of ADAR1, ADAR1-p110, decreased and increased T-cell migration, respec-tively. Chemokine arrays showed that ADAR1 controls the secre-tion of multiple chemokines from melanoma cells, probably through microRNA-mediated regulation. Chemokine receptor blockade eliminated the IFNy-driven T-cell chemotaxis. We pro-pose that the constitutive ADAR1 downregulation observed in melanoma contributes to immune exclusion, whereas antigen -specific T cells induce ADAR1-p150 by releasing IFNy, which can drive T-cell infiltration.