Setdb1-loss induces type-I interferons and immune clearance of melanoma

Despite recent advances in the treatment of melanoma, many patients with metastatic disease still succumb to their disease. To identify tumor-intrinsic modulators of immunity to melanoma, we performed a whole-genome CRISPR screen in melanoma and identified multiple components of the HUSH complex, including Setdb1 , as hits. We found that loss of Setdb1 leads to increased immunogenicity and complete tumor clearance in a CD8+ T-cell dependent manner. Mechanistically, loss of Setdb1 causes de-repression of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) in melanoma cells and triggers tumor-cell intrinsic type-I interferon signaling, upregulation of MHC-I expression, and increased CD8+ T-cell infiltration. Furthermore, spontaneous immune clearance observed in Setdb1 -/- tumors results in subsequent protection from other ERV-expressing tumor lines, supporting the functional anti-tumor role of ERV-specific CD8+ T-cells found in the Setdb1 -/- microenvironment. Blocking the type-I interferon receptor in mice grafted with Setdb1 -/- tumors decreases immunogenicity by decreasing MHC-I expression, leading to decreased T-cell infiltration and increased melanoma growth comparable to Setdb1 wt tumors. Together, these results indicate a critical role for Setdb1 and type-I interferons in generating an inflamed tumor microenvironment, and potentiating tumor-cell intrinsic immunogenicity in melanoma. This study further emphasizes regulators of ERV expression and type-I interferon expression as potential therapeutic targets for augmenting anti-cancer immune responses.