Adán Pinto-Fernández

Current research involves the study of the roles of a class of druggable enzymes called deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) in cancer inflammation using advanced proteomics, lipidomics, and immunology techniques as main tools.  

For instance, we have recently discovered that cancer cells lacking the DUB USP18, a negative regulator of the interferon pathway, are more antigenic and radiosensitive. At a molecular level, USP18-deficient cells accumulate innate immune ligands such as dsRNA, enhance the antigen presentation machinery, and hence they can activate more efficiently cytotoxic T cells, resulting in enhanced T cell killing and immunotherapy responses. 

Pinto-Fernandez, A., Salio, M., Partridge, T. et al. Deletion of the deISGylating enzyme USP18 enhances tumour cell antigenicity and radiosensitivity. Br J Cancer 124, 817–830 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-020-01167-y