ISG12a promotes immunotherapy of HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma through blocking TRIM21/AKT/β-Catenin/PD-L1 axis

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection generally elicits weak type-I interferon (IFN) immune response in hepatocytes, covering the regulatory effect of IFN-stimulated genes. In this study, low level of IFN-stimulated gene 12a (ISG12a) predicted malignant transformation and poor prognosis of HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), whereas high level of ISG12a indicated active NK cell phenotypes. ISG12a interacts with TRIM21 to inhibit the phosphorylation activation of protein kinase B (PKB, also known as AKT) and β-catenin, suppressing PD-L1 expression to block PD-1/PD-L1 signaling, thereby enhancing the anticancer effect of NK cells. The suppression of PD-1-deficient NK-92 cells on HBV-associated tumors was independent of ISG12a expression, whereas the anticancer effect of PD-1-expressed NK-92 cells on HBV-associated tumors was enhanced by ISG12a and treatments of atezolizumab and nivolumab. Thus, tumor intrinsic ISG12a promotes the anticancer effect of NK cells by regulating PD-1/PD-L1 signaling, presenting the significant role of innate immunity in defending against HBV-associated HCC.