Resistance to chemical carcinogenesis induction via a dampened inflammatory response in naked mole-rats
Kaori Oka, Shusuke Fujioka, Yoshimi Kawamura, Yoshihiro Komohara, Takeshi Chujo, Koki Sekiguchi, Yuki Yamamura, Yuki Oiwa, Natsuko Ishikawa, Shohei Komaki, Yoichi Sutoh, Satoko Sakurai, Kazuhito Tomizawa, Hidemasa Bono, Atsushi Shimizu, Kimi Araki, Takuya Yamamoto, Yasuhiro Yamada, Hiroyuki Oshiumi, Kyoko Miura
Abstract
Naked mole-rats (NMRs) have a very low spontaneous carcinogenesis rate, which has prompted studies on the responsible mechanisms to provide clues for human cancer prevention. However, it remains unknown whether and how NMR tissues respond to experimental carcinogenesis induction. Here, we show that NMRs exhibit extraordinary resistance against potent chemical carcinogenesis induction through a dampened inflammatory response. Although carcinogenic insults damaged skin cells of both NMRs and mice, NMR skin showed markedly lower immune cell infiltration. NMRs harbour loss-of-function mutations in RIPK3 and MLKL genes, which are essential for necroptosis, a type of necrotic cell death that activates strong inflammation. In mice, disruption of Ripk3 reduced immune cell infiltration and delayed carcinogenesis. Therefore, necroptosis deficiency may serve as a cancer resistance mechanism via attenuating the inflammatory response in NMRs. Our study sheds light on the importance of a dampened inflammatory response as a non-cell-autonomous cancer resistance mechanism in NMRs.