Targeted Repolarization of Tumor-Associated Macrophages via Imidazoquinoline-Linked Nanobodies

Abstract

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) promote the immune suppressive microenvironment inside tumors and are, therefore, considered as a promising target for the next generation of cancer immunotherapies. To repolarize their phenotype into a tumoricidal state, the Toll-like receptor 7/8 agonist imidazoquinoline IMDQ is site-specifically and quantitatively coupled to single chain antibody fragments, so-called nanobodies, targeting the macrophage mannose receptor (MMR) on TAMs. Intravenous injection of these conjugates result in a tumor- and cell-specific delivery of IMDQ into MMRhigh TAMs, causing a significant decline in tumor growth. This is accompanied by a repolarization of TAMs towards a pro-inflammatory phenotype and an increase in anti-tumor T cell responses. Therefore, the therapeutic benefit of such nanobody-drug conjugates may pave the road towards effective macrophage re-educating cancer immunotherapies.