IDH status dictates oHSV mediated metabolic reprogramming affecting antitumor immunity

Upasana Sahu, Matthew P. Mullarkey, Sara A. Murphy, Joshua C. Anderson, Vasanta Putluri, Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal, Jun Hyoung Park, Tae Jin Lee, Alexander L. Ling, Benny A. Kaipparettu, Ashok Sharma, Nagireddy Putluri, Pamela L. Wenzel, Christopher D. Willey, E. Antonio Chiocca, JamesM.Markert & Balveen Kaur

Nat. Commun. | 2025 | 16 | 3874

Identification of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutations has uncovered the crucial role of metabolism in gliomagenesis. Oncolytic herpes virus (oHSV) initiates direct tumor debulking by tumor lysis and activates anti-tumor immunity, however, little is known about the role of glioma metabolism in determining oHSV efficacy. Here we identify that oHSV rewires central carbon metabolism increasing glucose utilization towards oxidative phosphorylation and shuttling glutamine towards reductive carboxylation in IDH wildtype glioma. The switch in metabolism results in increased lipid synthesis and cellular ROS. PKC induces ACSL4 in oHSV treated cells leading to lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis. Ferroptosis is critical to launch an anti-tumor immune response which is important for viral efficacy.Mutant IDH (IDHR132H) gliomas are incapable of reductive carboxylation and hence ferroptosis. Pharmacological blockade of IDHR132H induces ferroptosis and anti-tumor immunity. This study provides a rationale to use an IDHR132H inhibitor to treat high grade IDH-mutant glioma patients undergoing oHSV treatment.