RESUMO
T cell responses must be balanced to ensure adequate protection against malignant transformation and an array of pathogens while also limiting damage to healthy cells and preventing autoimmunity. T cell exhaustion serves as a regulatory mechanism to limit the activity and effector function of T cells undergoing chronic antigen stimulation. Exhausted T cells exhibit poor proliferative potential; high inhibitory receptor expression; altered transcriptome, epigenome, and metabolism; and, most importantly, reduced effector function. While exhaustion helps to restrain damage caused by aberrant T cells in settings of autoimmune disease, it also limits the ability of cells to respond against persistent infection and cancer, leading to disease progression. Here we review the process of T cell exhaustion, detailing the key characteristics and drivers as well as highlighting our current understanding of the underlying transcriptional and epigenetic programming. We also discuss how exhaustion can be targeted to enhance T cell functionality in cancer.
Assuntos
Neoplasias , Linfócitos T , Humanos , Animais , Neoplasias/imunologia , Neoplasias/etiologia , Neoplasias/metabolismo , Linfócitos T/imunologia , Linfócitos T/metabolismo , Epigênese Genética , Ativação Linfocitária/imunologia , Doenças Autoimunes/imunologia , Doenças Autoimunes/metabolismo , Exaustão das Células TRESUMO
The liver's unique characteristics have a profound impact on the priming and maintenance of adaptive immunity. This review delves into the cellular circuits that regulate adaptive immune responses in the liver, with a specific focus on hepatitis B virus infection as an illustrative example. A key aspect highlighted is the liver's specialized role in priming CD8+ T cells, leading to a distinct state of immune hyporesponsiveness. Additionally, the influence of the liver's hemodynamics and anatomical features, particularly during liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, on the differentiation and function of adaptive immune cells is discussed. While the primary emphasis is on CD8+ T cells, recent findings regarding the involvement of B cells and CD4+ T cells in hepatic immunity are also reviewed. Furthermore, we address the challenges ahead and propose integrating cutting-edge techniques, such as spatial biology, and combining mouse models with human sample analyses to gain comprehensive insights into the liver's adaptive immunity. This understanding could pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies targeting infectious diseases, malignancies, and inflammatory liver conditions like metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis and autoimmune hepatitis.
Assuntos
Imunidade Adaptativa , Fígado , Humanos , Animais , Fígado/imunologia , Fígado/metabolismo , Fígado/patologia , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/imunologia , Vírus da Hepatite B/imunologia , Vírus da Hepatite B/fisiologia , Hepatite B/imunologia , Linfócitos B/imunologia , Linfócitos B/metabolismo , Linfócitos T CD4-Positivos/imunologiaRESUMO
Exhausted CD8 T (Tex) cells are a distinct cell lineage that arise during chronic infections and cancers in animal models and humans. Tex cells are characterized by progressive loss of effector functions, high and sustained inhibitory receptor expression, metabolic dysregulation, poor memory recall and homeostatic self-renewal, and distinct transcriptional and epigenetic programs. The ability to reinvigorate Tex cells through inhibitory receptor blockade, such as αPD-1, highlights the therapeutic potential of targeting this population. Emerging insights into the mechanisms of exhaustion are informing immunotherapies for cancer and chronic infections. However, like other immune cells, Tex cells are heterogeneous and include progenitor and terminal subsets with unique characteristics and responses to checkpoint blockade. Here, we review our current understanding of Tex cell biology, including the developmental paths, transcriptional and epigenetic features, and cell intrinsic and extrinsic factors contributing to exhaustion and how this knowledge may inform therapeutic targeting of Tex cells in chronic infections, autoimmunity, and cancer.
Assuntos
Receptores Coestimuladores e Inibidores de Linfócitos T/metabolismo , Imunoterapia/métodos , Neoplasias/imunologia , Receptor de Morte Celular Programada 1/metabolismo , Linfócitos T/fisiologia , Viroses/imunologia , Animais , Senescência Celular , Doença Crônica , Anergia Clonal , Epigênese Genética , Humanos , Neoplasias/terapia , Viroses/terapiaRESUMO
Alterations in extracellular matrix (ECM) architecture and stiffness represent hallmarks of cancer. Whether the biomechanical property of ECM impacts the functionality of tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells remains largely unknown. Here, we reveal that the transcription factor (TF) Osr2 integrates biomechanical signaling and facilitates the terminal exhaustion of tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells. Osr2 expression is selectively induced in the terminally exhausted tumor-specific CD8+ T cell subset by coupled T cell receptor (TCR) signaling and biomechanical stress mediated by the Piezo1/calcium/CREB axis. Consistently, depletion of Osr2 alleviates the exhaustion of tumor-specific CD8+ T cells or CAR-T cells, whereas forced Osr2 expression aggravates their exhaustion in solid tumor models. Mechanistically, Osr2 recruits HDAC3 to rewire the epigenetic program for suppressing cytotoxic gene expression and promoting CD8+ T cell exhaustion. Thus, our results unravel Osr2 functions as a biomechanical checkpoint to exacerbate CD8+ T cell exhaustion and could be targeted to potentiate cancer immunotherapy.
Assuntos
Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos , Fatores de Transcrição , Animais , Feminino , Humanos , Camundongos , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/imunologia , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/metabolismo , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Proteína de Ligação ao Elemento de Resposta ao AMP Cíclico/metabolismo , Matriz Extracelular/metabolismo , Histona Desacetilases/metabolismo , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Neoplasias/imunologia , Neoplasias/metabolismo , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfócitos T/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais , Exaustão das Células T , Fatores de Transcrição/metabolismo , Microambiente Tumoral , Estresse MecânicoRESUMO
Exhausted CD8 T (Tex) cells in chronic viral infection and cancer have sustained co-expression of inhibitory receptors (IRs). Tex cells can be reinvigorated by blocking IRs, such as PD-1, but synergistic reinvigoration and enhanced disease control can be achieved by co-targeting multiple IRs including PD-1 and LAG-3. To dissect the molecular changes intrinsic when these IR pathways are disrupted, we investigated the impact of loss of PD-1 and/or LAG-3 on Tex cells during chronic infection. These analyses revealed distinct roles of PD-1 and LAG-3 in regulating Tex cell proliferation and effector functions, respectively. Moreover, these studies identified an essential role for LAG-3 in sustaining TOX and Tex cell durability as well as a LAG-3-dependent circuit that generated a CD94/NKG2+ subset of Tex cells with enhanced cytotoxicity mediated by recognition of the stress ligand Qa-1b, with similar observations in humans. These analyses disentangle the non-redundant mechanisms of PD-1 and LAG-3 and their synergy in regulating Tex cells.
Assuntos
Antígenos CD , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade Classe I , Proteína do Gene 3 de Ativação de Linfócitos , Subfamília D de Receptores Semelhantes a Lectina de Células NK , Receptor de Morte Celular Programada 1 , Animais , Antígenos CD/metabolismo , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/imunologia , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/metabolismo , Camundongos , Receptor de Morte Celular Programada 1/metabolismo , Subfamília D de Receptores Semelhantes a Lectina de Células NK/metabolismo , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade Classe I/metabolismo , Humanos , Subfamília C de Receptores Semelhantes a Lectina de Células NK/metabolismo , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Proteínas de Grupo de Alta Mobilidade/metabolismo , Proteínas de Grupo de Alta Mobilidade/genética , Citotoxicidade Imunológica , Proliferação de Células , Células Matadoras Naturais/metabolismo , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologiaRESUMO
Immune tolerance mechanisms are shared in cancer and pregnancy. Through cross-analyzing single-cell RNA-sequencing data from multiple human cancer types and the maternal-fetal interface, we found B7-H4 (VTCN1) is an onco-fetal immune tolerance checkpoint. We showed that genetic deficiency of B7-H4 resulted in immune activation and fetal resorption in allogeneic pregnancy models. Analogously, B7-H4 contributed to MPA/DMBA-induced breast cancer progression, accompanied by CD8+ T cell exhaustion. Female hormone screening revealed that progesterone stimulated B7-H4 expression in placental and breast cancer cells. Mechanistically, progesterone receptor (PR) bound to a newly identified -58 kb enhancer, thereby mediating B7-H4 transcription via the PR-P300-BRD4 axis. PR antagonist or BRD4 degrader potentiated immunotherapy in a murine B7-H4+ breast cancer model. Thus, our work unravels a mechanistic and biological connection of a female sex hormone (progesterone) to onco-fetal immune tolerance via B7-H4 and suggests that the PR-P300-BRD4 axis is targetable for treating B7-H4+ cancer.
Assuntos
Tolerância Imunológica , Progesterona , Progestinas , Inibidor 1 da Ativação de Células T com Domínio V-Set , Animais , Feminino , Inibidor 1 da Ativação de Células T com Domínio V-Set/metabolismo , Humanos , Camundongos , Gravidez , Progestinas/farmacologia , Progestinas/metabolismo , Progesterona/metabolismo , Neoplasias da Mama/imunologia , Neoplasias da Mama/genética , Neoplasias da Mama/metabolismo , Receptores de Progesterona/metabolismo , Fatores de Transcrição/metabolismo , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/imunologia , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/metabolismo , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Placenta/metabolismo , Placenta/imunologiaRESUMO
Taurine is used to bolster immunity, but its effects on antitumor immunity are unclear. Here, we report that cancer-related taurine consumption causes T cell exhaustion and tumor progression. The taurine transporter SLC6A6 is correlated with aggressiveness and poor outcomes in multiple cancers. SLC6A6-mediated taurine uptake promotes the malignant behaviors of tumor cells but also increases the survival and effector function of CD8+ T cells. Tumor cells outcompete CD8+ T cells for taurine by overexpressing SLC6A6, which induces T cell death and malfunction, thereby fueling tumor progression. Mechanistically, taurine deficiency in CD8+ T cells increases ER stress, promoting ATF4 transcription in a PERK-JAK1-STAT3 signaling-dependent manner. Increased ATF4 transactivates multiple immune checkpoint genes and induces T cell exhaustion. In gastric cancer, we identify a chemotherapy-induced SP1-SLC6A6 regulatory axis. Our findings suggest that tumoral-SLC6A6-mediated taurine deficiency promotes immune evasion and that taurine supplementation reinvigorates exhausted CD8+ T cells and increases the efficacy of cancer therapies.
Assuntos
Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos , Glicoproteínas de Membrana , Taurina , Taurina/metabolismo , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/imunologia , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/metabolismo , Animais , Humanos , Camundongos , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Estresse do Retículo Endoplasmático , Fator 4 Ativador da Transcrição/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais , Feminino , Proteínas de Membrana Transportadoras/metabolismo , Proteínas de Membrana Transportadoras/genética , Fator de Transcrição STAT3/metabolismoRESUMO
Immune checkpoint inhibition treatment using aPD-1 monoclonal antibodies is a promising cancer immunotherapy approach. However, its effect on tumor immunity is narrow, as most patients do not respond to the treatment or suffer from recurrence. We show that the crosstalk between conventional type I dendritic cells (cDC1) and T cells is essential for an effective aPD-1-mediated anti-tumor response. Accordingly, we developed a bispecific DC-T cell engager (BiCE), a reagent that facilitates physical interactions between PD-1+ T cells and cDC1. BiCE treatment promotes the formation of active dendritic/T cell crosstalk in the tumor and tumor-draining lymph nodes. In vivo, single-cell and physical interacting cell analysis demonstrates the distinct and superior immune reprogramming of the tumors and tumor-draining lymph nodes treated with BiCE as compared to conventional aPD-1 treatment. By bridging immune cells, BiCE potentiates cell circuits and communication pathways needed for effective anti-tumor immunity.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Biespecíficos , Neoplasias , Humanos , Anticorpos Biespecíficos/uso terapêutico , Células Dendríticas/imunologia , Imunoterapia , Neoplasias/imunologia , Neoplasias/terapia , Linfócitos T/imunologiaRESUMO
CRISPR technologies have begun to revolutionize T cell therapies; however, conventional CRISPR-Cas9 genome-editing tools are limited in their safety, efficacy, and scope. To address these challenges, we developed multiplexed effector guide arrays (MEGA), a platform for programmable and scalable regulation of the T cell transcriptome using the RNA-guided, RNA-targeting activity of CRISPR-Cas13d. MEGA enables quantitative, reversible, and massively multiplexed gene knockdown in primary human T cells without targeting or cutting genomic DNA. Applying MEGA to a model of CAR T cell exhaustion, we robustly suppressed inhibitory receptor upregulation and uncovered paired regulators of T cell function through combinatorial CRISPR screening. We additionally implemented druggable regulation of MEGA to control CAR activation in a receptor-independent manner. Lastly, MEGA enabled multiplexed disruption of immunoregulatory metabolic pathways to enhance CAR T cell fitness and anti-tumor activity in vitro and in vivo. MEGA offers a versatile synthetic toolkit for applications in cancer immunotherapy and beyond.
Assuntos
Engenharia Metabólica , Linfócitos T , Humanos , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Engenharia Metabólica/métodos , RNA , TranscriptomaRESUMO
Relatlimab (rela; anti-LAG-3) plus nivolumab (nivo; anti-PD-1) is safe and effective for treatment of advanced melanoma. We designed a trial (NCT03743766) where advanced melanoma patients received rela, nivo, or rela+nivo to interrogate the immunologic mechanisms of rela+nivo. Analysis of biospecimens from this ongoing trial demonstrated that rela+nivo led to enhanced capacity for CD8+ T cell receptor signaling and altered CD8+ T cell differentiation, leading to heightened cytotoxicity despite the retention of an exhaustion profile. Co-expression of cytotoxic and exhaustion signatures was driven by PRDM1, BATF, ETV7, and TOX. Effector function was upregulated in clonally expanded CD8+ T cells that emerged after rela+nivo. A rela+nivo intratumoral CD8+ T cell signature was associated with a favorable prognosis. This intratumoral rela+nivo signature was validated in peripheral blood as an elevated frequency of CD38+TIM3+CD8+ T cells. Overall, we demonstrated that cytotoxicity can be enhanced despite the retention of exhaustion signatures, which will inform future therapeutic strategies.
Assuntos
Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos , Proteína do Gene 3 de Ativação de Linfócitos , Melanoma , Receptor de Morte Celular Programada 1 , Humanos , Antígenos CD/metabolismo , Antígenos CD/genética , Fatores de Transcrição de Zíper de Leucina Básica/metabolismo , Fatores de Transcrição de Zíper de Leucina Básica/genética , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/imunologia , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/metabolismo , Diferenciação Celular , Citotoxicidade Imunológica , Proteínas de Grupo de Alta Mobilidade , Inibidores de Checkpoint Imunológico/uso terapêutico , Inibidores de Checkpoint Imunológico/farmacologia , Proteína do Gene 3 de Ativação de Linfócitos/antagonistas & inibidores , Melanoma/imunologia , Melanoma/tratamento farmacológico , Melanoma/genética , Nivolumabe/uso terapêutico , Nivolumabe/farmacologia , Fator 1 de Ligação ao Domínio I Regulador Positivo/metabolismo , Fator 1 de Ligação ao Domínio I Regulador Positivo/genética , Receptor de Morte Celular Programada 1/antagonistas & inibidores , Transdução de SinaisRESUMO
CD8+ T cell responses are critical for anti-tumor immunity. While extensively profiled in the tumor microenvironment, recent studies in mice identified responses in lymph nodes (LNs) as essential; however, the role of LNs in human cancer patients remains unknown. We examined CD8+ T cells in human head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, regional LNs, and blood using mass cytometry, single-cell genomics, and multiplexed ion beam imaging. We identified progenitor exhausted CD8+ T cells (Tpex) that were abundant in uninvolved LN and clonally related to terminally exhausted cells in the tumor. After anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy, Tpex in uninvolved LNs reduced in frequency but localized near dendritic cells and proliferating intermediate-exhausted CD8+ T cells (Tex-int), consistent with activation and differentiation. LN responses coincided with increased circulating Tex-int. In metastatic LNs, these response hallmarks were impaired, with immunosuppressive cellular niches. Our results identify important roles for LNs in anti-tumor immune responses in humans.
Assuntos
Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos , Neoplasias , Humanos , Animais , Camundongos , Linfonodos , Neoplasias/terapia , Neoplasias/patologia , Imunoterapia/métodos , Microambiente TumoralRESUMO
Blocking PD-1/PD-L1 signaling transforms cancer therapy and is assumed to unleash exhausted tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). However, recent studies have also indicated that the systemic tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells may respond to PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy. These discrepancies highlight the importance of further defining tumor-specific CD8+ T cell responders to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. Here, using multiple preclinical tumor models, we revealed that a subset of tumor-specific CD8+ cells in the tumor draining lymph nodes (TdLNs) was not functionally exhausted but exhibited canonical memory characteristics. TdLN-derived tumor-specific memory (TTSM) cells established memory-associated epigenetic program early during tumorigenesis. More importantly, TdLN-TTSM cells exhibited superior anti-tumor therapeutic efficacy after adoptive transfer and were characterized as bona fide responders to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. These findings highlight that TdLN-TTSM cells could be harnessed to potentiate anti-tumor immunotherapy.
Assuntos
Antígeno B7-H1 , Neoplasias , Humanos , Receptor de Morte Celular Programada 1 , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos , Inibidores de Checkpoint Imunológico , Microambiente Tumoral , Neoplasias/terapia , Neoplasias/patologia , Linfonodos/patologiaRESUMO
Regulatable CAR platforms could circumvent toxicities associated with CAR-T therapy, but existing systems have shortcomings including leakiness and attenuated activity. Here, we present SNIP CARs, a protease-based platform for regulating CAR activity using an FDA-approved small molecule. Design iterations yielded CAR-T cells that manifest full functional capacity with drug and no leaky activity in the absence of drug. In numerous models, SNIP CAR-T cells were more potent than constitutive CAR-T cells and showed diminished T cell exhaustion and greater stemness. In a ROR1-based CAR lethality model, drug cessation following toxicity onset reversed toxicity, thereby credentialing the platform as a safety switch. In the same model, reduced drug dosing opened a therapeutic window that resulted in tumor eradication in the absence of toxicity. SNIP CARs enable remote tuning of CAR activity, which provides solutions to safety and efficacy barriers that are currently limiting progress in using CAR-T cells to treat solid tumors.
Assuntos
Neoplasias , Receptores de Antígenos Quiméricos , Humanos , Imunoterapia Adotiva/métodos , Neoplasias/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias/patologia , Peptídeo Hidrolases , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfócitos T , Linfócitos T/patologiaRESUMO
COVID-19 exhibits extensive patient-to-patient heterogeneity. To link immune response variation to disease severity and outcome over time, we longitudinally assessed circulating proteins as well as 188 surface protein markers, transcriptome, and T cell receptor sequence simultaneously in single peripheral immune cells from COVID-19 patients. Conditional-independence network analysis revealed primary correlates of disease severity, including gene expression signatures of apoptosis in plasmacytoid dendritic cells and attenuated inflammation but increased fatty acid metabolism in CD56dimCD16hi NK cells linked positively to circulating interleukin (IL)-15. CD8+ T cell activation was apparent without signs of exhaustion. Although cellular inflammation was depressed in severe patients early after hospitalization, it became elevated by days 17-23 post symptom onset, suggestive of a late wave of inflammatory responses. Furthermore, circulating protein trajectories at this time were divergent between and predictive of recovery versus fatal outcomes. Our findings stress the importance of timing in the analysis, clinical monitoring, and therapeutic intervention of COVID-19.
Assuntos
COVID-19/imunologia , Citocinas/metabolismo , Células Dendríticas/metabolismo , Expressão Gênica/imunologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/metabolismo , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Biomarcadores/metabolismo , COVID-19/mortalidade , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Células Dendríticas/citologia , Feminino , Humanos , Células Matadoras Naturais/citologia , Estudos Longitudinais , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Transcriptoma/imunologia , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Improving effector activity of antigen-specific T cells is a major goal in cancer immunotherapy. Despite the identification of several effector T cell (TEFF)-driving transcription factors (TFs), the transcriptional coordination of TEFF biology remains poorly understood. We developed an in vivo T cell CRISPR screening platform and identified a key mechanism restraining TEFF biology through the ETS family TF, Fli1. Genetic deletion of Fli1 enhanced TEFF responses without compromising memory or exhaustion precursors. Fli1 restrained TEFF lineage differentiation by binding to cis-regulatory elements of effector-associated genes. Loss of Fli1 increased chromatin accessibility at ETS:RUNX motifs, allowing more efficient Runx3-driven TEFF biology. CD8+ T cells lacking Fli1 provided substantially better protection against multiple infections and tumors. These data indicate that Fli1 safeguards the developing CD8+ T cell transcriptional landscape from excessive ETS:RUNX-driven TEFF cell differentiation. Moreover, genetic deletion of Fli1 improves TEFF differentiation and protective immunity in infections and cancer.
Assuntos
Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/citologia , Proteína Proto-Oncogênica c-fli-1/metabolismo , Animais , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/imunologia , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/metabolismo , Sistemas CRISPR-Cas , Diferenciação Celular , Doença Crônica , Subunidade alfa 3 de Fator de Ligação ao Core/metabolismo , Epigênese Genética , Redes Reguladoras de Genes , Infecções/imunologia , Camundongos , Neoplasias/imunologiaRESUMO
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has achieved remarkable success in hematological malignancies but remains ineffective in solid tumors, due in part to CAR T cell exhaustion in the solid tumor microenvironment. To study dysfunction of mesothelin-redirected CAR T cells in pancreatic cancer, we establish a robust model of continuous antigen exposure that recapitulates hallmark features of T cell exhaustion and discover, both in vitro and in CAR T cell patients, that CAR dysregulation is associated with a CD8+ T-to-NK-like T cell transition. Furthermore, we identify a gene signature defining CAR and TCR dysregulation and transcription factors, including SOX4 and ID3 as key regulators of CAR T cell exhaustion. Our findings shed light on the plasticity of human CAR T cells and demonstrate that genetic downmodulation of ID3 and SOX4 expression can improve the efficacy of CAR T cell therapy in solid tumors by preventing or delaying CAR T cell dysfunction.
Assuntos
Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/imunologia , Imunoterapia Adotiva/métodos , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/terapia , Receptores de Antígenos Quiméricos/imunologia , Animais , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/citologia , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Proteínas Inibidoras de Diferenciação/imunologia , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Knockout , Camundongos Nus , Camundongos SCID , Proteínas de Neoplasias/imunologia , Fatores de Transcrição SOXC/imunologiaRESUMO
Brain malignancies can either originate from within the CNS (gliomas) or invade from other locations in the body (metastases). A highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) influences brain tumor outgrowth. Whether the TME is predominantly shaped by the CNS micromilieu or by the malignancy itself is unknown, as is the diversity, origin, and function of CNS tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Here, we have mapped the leukocyte landscape of brain tumors using high-dimensional single-cell profiling (CyTOF). The heterogeneous composition of tissue-resident and invading immune cells within the TME alone permitted a clear distinction between gliomas and brain metastases (BrM). The glioma TME presented predominantly with tissue-resident, reactive microglia, whereas tissue-invading leukocytes accumulated in BrM. Tissue-invading TAMs showed a distinctive signature trajectory, revealing tumor-driven instruction along with contrasting lymphocyte activation and exhaustion. Defining the specific immunological signature of brain tumors can facilitate the rational design of targeted immunotherapy strategies.
Assuntos
Neoplasias Encefálicas/imunologia , Leucócitos/imunologia , Microambiente Tumoral/imunologia , Neoplasias Encefálicas/patologia , Feminino , Glioma/patologia , Humanos , Imunoterapia , Leucócitos/metabolismo , Leucócitos/fisiologia , Ativação Linfocitária/imunologia , Linfócitos do Interstício Tumoral/imunologia , Macrófagos/imunologia , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Masculino , Microglia/patologia , Metástase Neoplásica/patologiaRESUMO
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) activation by tryptophan (Trp) catabolites enhances tumor malignancy and suppresses anti-tumor immunity. The context specificity of AHR target genes has so far impeded systematic investigation of AHR activity and its upstream enzymes across human cancers. A pan-tissue AHR signature, derived by natural language processing, revealed that across 32 tumor entities, interleukin-4-induced-1 (IL4I1) associates more frequently with AHR activity than IDO1 or TDO2, hitherto recognized as the main Trp-catabolic enzymes. IL4I1 activates the AHR through the generation of indole metabolites and kynurenic acid. It associates with reduced survival in glioma patients, promotes cancer cell motility, and suppresses adaptive immunity, thereby enhancing the progression of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in mice. Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) induces IDO1 and IL4I1. As IDO1 inhibitors do not block IL4I1, IL4I1 may explain the failure of clinical studies combining ICB with IDO1 inhibition. Taken together, IL4I1 blockade opens new avenues for cancer therapy.
Assuntos
L-Aminoácido Oxidase/metabolismo , Receptores de Hidrocarboneto Arílico/metabolismo , Adulto , Idoso , Animais , Linhagem Celular , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Progressão da Doença , Feminino , Glioma/imunologia , Glioma/metabolismo , Glioma/terapia , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Inibidores de Checkpoint Imunológico/farmacologia , Indolamina-Pirrol 2,3,-Dioxigenase/metabolismo , Leucemia Linfocítica Crônica de Células B/imunologia , Leucemia Linfocítica Crônica de Células B/metabolismo , Leucemia Linfocítica Crônica de Células B/terapia , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , RatosRESUMO
Interferon-gamma (IFNG) augments immune function yet promotes T cell exhaustion through PDL1. How these opposing effects are integrated to impact immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is unclear. We show that while inhibiting tumor IFNG signaling decreases interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) in cancer cells, it increases ISGs in immune cells by enhancing IFNG produced by exhausted T cells (TEX). In tumors with favorable antigenicity, these TEX mediate rejection. In tumors with neoantigen or MHC-I loss, TEX instead utilize IFNG to drive maturation of innate immune cells, including a PD1+TRAIL+ ILC1 population. By disabling an inhibitory circuit impacting PD1 and TRAIL, blocking tumor IFNG signaling promotes innate immune killing. Thus, interferon signaling in cancer cells and immune cells oppose each other to establish a regulatory relationship that limits both adaptive and innate immune killing. In melanoma and lung cancer patients, perturbation of this relationship is associated with ICB response independent of tumor mutational burden.
Assuntos
Imunidade Adaptativa/imunologia , Imunidade Inata/imunologia , Interferon gama/genética , Interferon gama/metabolismo , Neoplasias Pulmonares/imunologia , Melanoma/imunologia , Transferência Adotiva , Animais , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Antineoplásicos/uso terapêutico , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/imunologia , Antígeno CTLA-4/antagonistas & inibidores , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Estudos de Coortes , Feminino , Técnicas de Inativação de Genes , Humanos , Interferon gama/antagonistas & inibidores , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Neoplasias Pulmonares/tratamento farmacológico , Melanoma/tratamento farmacológico , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Knockout , Receptor de Morte Celular Programada 1/antagonistas & inibidores , Intervalo Livre de Progressão , RNA-Seq , TransfecçãoRESUMO
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) hypofunction contributes to the progression of advanced cancers and is a frequent target of immunotherapy. Emerging evidence indicates that metabolic insufficiency drives T cell hypofunction during tonic stimulation, but the signals that initiate metabolic reprogramming in this context are largely unknown. Here, we found that Meteorin-like (METRNL), a metabolically active cytokine secreted by immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), induced bioenergetic failure of CD8+ T cells. METRNL was secreted by CD8+ T cells during repeated stimulation and acted via both autocrine and paracrine signaling. Mechanistically, METRNL increased E2F-peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARδ) activity, causing mitochondrial depolarization and decreased oxidative phosphorylation, which triggered a compensatory bioenergetic shift to glycolysis. Metrnl ablation or downregulation improved the metabolic fitness of CD8+ T cells and enhanced tumor control in several tumor models, demonstrating the translational potential of targeting the METRNL-E2F-PPARδ pathway to support bioenergetic fitness of CD8+ TILs.