Hepcidin‐Based Nanocomposites for Enhanced Cancer Immunotherapy by Modulating Iron Export‐Mediated N6‐Methyladenosine RNA Transcript

Abstract

AbstractDespite recent advances in targeted therapies and immunotherapies in acute myeloid leukemia, patient prognosis is still dismal given the high frequency of refractory cases or post‐remission relapse. Ferrotherapy, a novel anti‐cancer treatment strategy using iron‐based compounds, can mechanistically bypass the chemoresistance of cancer cells. However, cancer cells often overexpress the transmembrane iron exporter ferroportin that expels accumulated iron into the plasma, which can potentially limit the efficacy of ferrotherapy and lead to systemic toxic effects. Here, a ferro‐therapeutic nanoplatform is designed using fusing hepcidin and leukemia cell‐membrane vesicles on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)‐loaded hollow mesoporous Prussian Blue (AuPB@LMHep). AuPB@LMHep specifically targeted leukemia cells through ferroportin and is subsequently internalized and disintegrated into iron and AuNPs through autophagy. The accumulation of iron due to blockade of ferroportin‐mediated iron efflux and the depletion of glutathione by the AuNPs triggered ferroptosis. Furthermore, iron accumulation inactivated the endogenous iron‐dependent m6A demethylase, thereby increasing global m6A RNA modification and suppressing multiple oncogenes. Finally, AuPB@LMHep enhanced the immune response to anti‐programmed death ligand1 treatment via increasing cytotoxic tumor‐infiltrating T cells. Pre‐clinical findings provide the proof‐of‐concept of hepcidin‐based nanocomposite as an “epigenetic drug” and immunotherapeutic agent for treating leukemia.