Gas-Amplified Metalloimmunotherapy with Dual Activation of Pyroptosis and the STING Pathway for Remodeling the Immunosuppressive Cervical Cancer Microenvironment.

Abstract

The immunosuppressive microenvironment of cervical cancer significantly hampers the effectiveness of immunotherapy. Herein, PEGylated manganese-doped calcium sulfide nanoparticles (MCSP) were developed to effectively enhance the antitumor immune response of the cervical cancer through gas-amplified metalloimmunotherapy with dual activation of pyroptosis and STING pathway. The bioactive MCSP exhibited the ability to rapidly release Ca²⁺, Mn²⁺, and H₂S in response to the tumor microenvironment. H₂S disrupted the calcium buffer system of cancer cells by interfering with the oxidative phosphorylation pathway, leading to calcium overload-triggered pyroptosis. On the other hand, H₂S-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction further promoted the release of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), enhancing the activation effect of Mn²⁺ on the cGAS-STING signaling axis and thereby activating immunosuppressed dendritic cells. The released H₂S acted as an important synergist between Mn²⁺ and Ca²⁺ by modulating dual signaling mechanisms to bridge innate and adaptive immune responses. The combination of MCSP NPs and PD-1 immunotherapy achieved synergistic antitumor effects and effectively inhibited tumor growth. This study reveals the potential collaboration between H₂S gas therapy and metalloimmunotherapy and provides an idea for the design of nanoimmunomodulators for rational regulation of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.