Developmental Relationships of Four Exhausted CD8+ T Cell Subsets Reveals Underlying Transcriptional and Epigenetic Landscape Control Mechanisms
- PMID: 32396847
- PMCID: PMC8360766
- DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2020.04.014
Developmental Relationships of Four Exhausted CD8+ T Cell Subsets Reveals Underlying Transcriptional and Epigenetic Landscape Control Mechanisms
Abstract
CD8+ T cell exhaustion is a major barrier to current anti-cancer immunotherapies. Despite this, the developmental biology of exhausted CD8+ T cells (Tex) remains poorly defined, restraining improvement of strategies aimed at "re-invigorating" Tex cells. Here, we defined a four-cell-stage developmental framework for Tex cells. Two TCF1+ progenitor subsets were identified, one tissue restricted and quiescent and one more blood accessible, that gradually lost TCF1 as it divided and converted to a third intermediate Tex subset. This intermediate subset re-engaged some effector biology and increased upon PD-L1 blockade but ultimately converted into a fourth, terminally exhausted subset. By using transcriptional and epigenetic analyses, we identified the control mechanisms underlying subset transitions and defined a key interplay between TCF1, T-bet, and Tox in the process. These data reveal a four-stage developmental hierarchy for Tex cells and define the molecular, transcriptional, and epigenetic mechanisms that could provide opportunities to improve cancer immunotherapy.
Keywords: CD8; PD-1 blockade; T cell exhaustion lineage; T-bet; TCF1; Tox; cancer immunotherapy; chronic infection; epigenetics; exhaustion.
Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Conflict of interest statement
Declaration of Interests E.J.W. is a member of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy which supported these studies. E.J.W. has consulting agreements with and/or is on the scientific advisory board for Merck, Roche, Pieris, Elstar, and Surface Oncology. E.J.W. has a patent licensing agreement on the PD-1 pathway with Roche/Genentech. E.J.W. is a founder of Arsenal Biosciences.
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Comment in
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Charting the Roadmap of T Cell Exhaustion.Immunity. 2020 May 19;52(5):724-726. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2020.04.019. Immunity. 2020. PMID: 32433943
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