MTHFD2 reprograms macrophage polarization by inhibiting PTEN

作者：Man Shang, Lina Ni, Xiao Shan, Yan Cui, Penghui Hu, Zemin Ji, Long Shen, Yanan Zhang, Jinxue Zhou, Bing Chen, Ting Wang, Qiujing Yu · 发表于：Cell Reports · 年份：2023 · DOI：10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112481 · 被引用次数：32 · 研究领域：PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in cancer、Immune cells in cancer、Fibroblast Growth Factor Research

The one-carbon metabolism enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase 2 (MTHFD2) is involved in the regulation of tumor oncogenesis and immune cell functions, but whether it can contribute to macrophage polarization remains elusive. Here, we show that MTHFD2 suppresses polarization of interferon-γ-activated macrophages (M(IFN-γ)) but enhances that of interleukin-4-activated macrophages (M(IL-4)) both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, MTHFD2 interacts with phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) to suppress PTEN's phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3) phosphatase activity and enhance downstream Akt activation, independent of the N-terminal mitochondria-targeting signal of MTHFD2. MTHFD2-PTEN interaction is promoted by IL-4 but not IFN-γ. Furthermore, amino acid residues (aa 215-225) of MTHFD2 directly target PTEN catalytic center (aa 118-141). Residue D168 of MTHFD2 is also critical for regulating PTEN's PIP3 phosphatase activity by affecting MTHFD2-PTEN interaction. Our study suggests a non-metabolic function of MTHFD2 by which MTHFD2 inhibits PTEN activity, orchestrates macrophage polarization, and alters macrophage-mediated immune responses.