Single-Cell RNA Sequencing of Tumor-Infiltrating NK Cells Reveals that Inhibition of Transcription Factor HIF-1α Unleashes NK Cell Activity.
Immunity
; 52(6): 1075-1087.e8, 2020 06 16.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32445619
ABSTRACT
Enhancing immune cell functions in tumors remains a major challenge in cancer immunotherapy. Hypoxia is a common feature of solid tumors, and cells adapt by upregulating the transcription factor HIF-1α. Here, we defined the transcriptional landscape of mouse tumor-infiltrating natural killer (NK) cells by using single-cell RNA sequencing. Conditional deletion of Hif1a in NK cells resulted in reduced tumor growth, elevated expression of activation markers, effector molecules, and an enriched NF-κB pathway in tumor-infiltrating NK cells. Interleukin-18 (IL-18) from myeloid cells was required for NF-κB activation and the enhanced anti-tumor activity of Hif1a-/- NK cells. Extended culture with an HIF-1α inhibitor increased human NK cell responses. Low HIF1A expression was associated with high expression of IFNG in human tumor-infiltrating NK cells, and an enriched NK-IL18-IFNG signature in solid tumors correlated with increased overall patient survival. Thus, inhibition of HIF-1α unleashes NK cell anti-tumor activity and could be exploited for cancer therapy.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Killer Cells, Natural
/
Lymphocyte Activation
/
Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating
/
Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
/
Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Immunity
Journal subject:
ALERGIA E IMUNOLOGIA
Year:
2020
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Germany