HMGB2 regulates the differentiation and stemness of exhausted CD8+ T cells during chronic viral infection and cancer.
Nat Commun
; 14(1): 5631, 2023 09 13.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37704621
ABSTRACT
Chronic infections and cancers evade the host immune system through mechanisms that induce T cell exhaustion. The heterogeneity within the exhausted CD8+ T cell pool has revealed the importance of stem-like progenitor (Tpex) and terminal (Tex) exhausted T cells, although the mechanisms underlying their development are not fully known. Here we report High Mobility Group Box 2 (HMGB2) protein expression is upregulated and sustained in exhausted CD8+ T cells, and HMGB2 expression is critical for their differentiation. Through epigenetic and transcriptional programming, we identify HMGB2 as a cell-intrinsic regulator of the differentiation and maintenance of Tpex cells during chronic viral infection and in tumors. Despite Hmgb2-/- CD8+ T cells expressing TCF-1 and TOX, these master regulators were unable to sustain Tpex differentiation and long-term survival during persistent antigen. Furthermore, HMGB2 also had a cell-intrinsic function in the differentiation and function of memory CD8+ T cells after acute viral infection. Our findings show that HMGB2 is a key regulator of CD8+ T cells and may be an important molecular target for future T cell-based immunotherapies.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Viroses
/
Neoplasias
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article