RESUMEN

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study aims to evaluate neutrophil-to-eosinophil ratio (NER) as a prognostic and/or predictive biomarker in metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (m-ccRCC) treated with nivolumab or ipilimumab/nivolumab. PATIENTS/MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study on m-ccRCC patients treated with nivolumab or ipilimumab/nivolumab (2012-2022). Baseline NER was calculated and correlated with clinical outcomes: response rate (RR), progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Corresponding transcriptomic data were analysed. RESULTS: We included 201 m-ccRCC patients, 76 treated with ipilimumab/nivolumab and 125 with nivolumab. Baseline NER was statistically significantly associated with International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium (IMDC) risk groups. Increased NER was associated with shorter PFS and OS in the total patient series and nivolumab-treated patients. In patients treated with ipilimumab/nivolumab, increased NER was only statistically significantly associated with shorter OS. The impact of baseline NER on PFS and OS was independent of IMDC risk stratification. No clear correlation was found between baseline NER and RECIST response or maximal tumour shrinkage. In two additional databases, NER was also associated with PFS and OS in first-line vascular-endothelial-growth-factor-receptor tyrosine-kinase-inhibitors (VEGFR-TKIs), but not to disease-free survival in the post-nephrectomy setting. Lower NER was associated with intratumoural molecular features possibly associated with better outcome on immune checkpoint inhibitors. INTERPRETATION: Lower baseline NER is associated with better PFS and OS, independent of IMDC risk score, in m-ccRCC patients treated with ipilimumab/nivolumab or nivolumab. It correlates with intratumoural molecular features possibly associated with better outcome on immune checkpoint inhibitors. The predictive power of this biomarker is probably limited and insufficient for patient selection.

Asunto(s)

Carcinoma de Células Renales , Ipilimumab , Neoplasias Renales , Neutrófilos , Nivolumab , Humanos , Nivolumab/uso terapéutico , Carcinoma de Células Renales/tratamiento farmacológico , Carcinoma de Células Renales/patología , Carcinoma de Células Renales/mortalidad , Ipilimumab/uso terapéutico , Neoplasias Renales/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Renales/patología , Neoplasias Renales/mortalidad , Estudios Retrospectivos , Masculino , Femenino , Anciano , Persona de Mediana Edad , Adulto , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapéutico , Pronóstico , Supervivencia sin Progresión

RESUMEN

The cGAS/STING pathway is a crucial immune activator in cancer biology, triggering innate immunosurveillance against tumors by sensing and reacting to endogenous mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). In this issue of Cancer Research, research by Saha and colleagues highlights the significant impact of serine deprivation on this pathway, thereby unveiling its potential for anticancer therapy. Serine is essential for cellular metabolism and influences tumor growth and immune responses. Depriving cells of serine caused mitochondrial dysfunction and the release of mtDNA into the cytosol, activating the cGAS/STING pathway and inducing type I IFN responses. In mouse models, serine deprivation enhanced antitumor immunity, with increased tumoral immune infiltration, including CD4+/CD8+ T cells and type I IFN responses. Clinically, a genetic signature indicative of lower serine enrichment in colorectal cancer patients correlated with immune activation and improved survival. Furthermore, combining serine deprivation with PD1 blockade significantly reduced tumor volume and led to long-term immunity in mice, suggesting that serine depletion enhances the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade. These findings propose serine deprivation as a promising strategy to boost antitumor immunity and improve cancer patient outcomes. See related article by Saha et al., p. 2645.

Asunto(s)

Proteínas de la Membrana , Neoplasias , Nucleotidiltransferasas , Nucleotidiltransferasas/metabolismo , Nucleotidiltransferasas/genética , Humanos , Animales , Proteínas de la Membrana/metabolismo , Proteínas de la Membrana/genética , Ratones , Neoplasias/inmunología , Neoplasias/patología , Neoplasias/metabolismo , Neoplasias/genética , ADN Mitocondrial/genética , ADN Mitocondrial/inmunología , Transducción de Señal/inmunología , Serina/metabolismo

RESUMEN

Enteric glia have been recently recognized as key components of the colonic tumor microenvironment indicating their potential role in colorectal cancer pathogenesis. Although enteric glia modulate immune responses in other intestinal diseases, their interaction with the colorectal cancer immune cell compartment remains unclear. Through a combination of single-cell and bulk RNA-sequencing, both in murine models and patients, here we find that enteric glia acquire an immunomodulatory phenotype by bi-directional communication with tumor-infiltrating monocytes. The latter direct a reactive enteric glial cell phenotypic and functional switch via glial IL-1R signaling. In turn, tumor glia promote monocyte differentiation towards pro-tumorigenic SPP1+ tumor-associated macrophages by IL-6 release. Enteric glia cell abundancy correlates with worse disease outcomes in preclinical models and colorectal cancer patients. Thereby, our study reveals a neuroimmune interaction between enteric glia and tumor-associated macrophages in the colorectal tumor microenvironment, providing insights into colorectal cancer pathogenesis.

Asunto(s)

Neoplasias Colorrectales , Neuroglía , Transducción de Señal , Microambiente Tumoral , Animales , Neoplasias Colorrectales/patología , Neoplasias Colorrectales/inmunología , Neoplasias Colorrectales/metabolismo , Neoplasias Colorrectales/genética , Humanos , Microambiente Tumoral/inmunología , Neuroglía/metabolismo , Ratones , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Macrófagos/inmunología , Receptores de Interleucina-1/metabolismo , Receptores de Interleucina-1/genética , Macrófagos Asociados a Tumores/inmunología , Macrófagos Asociados a Tumores/metabolismo , Interleucina-6/metabolismo , Monocitos/metabolismo , Monocitos/inmunología , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Comunicación Celular , Diferenciación Celular , Línea Celular Tumoral , Femenino

RESUMEN

Despite the success of immunotherapy, overcoming immunoresistance in cancer remains challenging. We identified a unique niche of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), coexpressing T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing 3 (TIM3) and V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA), that dominated human and mouse tumors resistant to most of the currently used immunotherapies. TIM3+VISTA+ TAMs were sustained by IL-4-enriching tumors with low (neo)antigenic and T cell-depleted features. TIM3+VISTA+ TAMs showed an anti-inflammatory and protumorigenic phenotype coupled with inability to sense type I interferon (IFN). This was established with cancer cells succumbing to immunogenic cell death (ICD). Dying cancer cells not only triggered autocrine type I IFNs but also exposed HMGB1/VISTA that engaged TIM3/VISTA on TAMs to suppress paracrine IFN-responses. Accordingly, TIM3/VISTA blockade synergized with paclitaxel, an ICD-inducing chemotherapy, to repolarize TIM3+VISTA+ TAMs to proinflammatory TAMs that killed cancer cells via tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) signaling. We propose targeting TIM3+VISTA+ TAMs to overcome immunoresistant tumors.

Asunto(s)

Receptor 2 Celular del Virus de la Hepatitis A , Inmunoterapia , Macrófagos Asociados a Tumores , Macrófagos Asociados a Tumores/metabolismo , Macrófagos Asociados a Tumores/inmunología , Macrófagos Asociados a Tumores/efectos de los fármacos , Animales , Receptor 2 Celular del Virus de la Hepatitis A/metabolismo , Humanos , Inmunoterapia/métodos , Ratones , Resistencia a Antineoplásicos , Neoplasias/terapia , Neoplasias/inmunología , Neoplasias/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias/patología , Línea Celular Tumoral , Microambiente Tumoral/inmunología , Interferón Tipo I/metabolismo , Antígenos B7

RESUMEN

Many individuals with cancer are resistant to immunotherapies. Here, we identify the gene encoding the pyrimidine salvage pathway enzyme cytidine deaminase (CDA) among the top upregulated metabolic genes in several immunotherapy-resistant tumors. We show that CDA in cancer cells contributes to the uridine diphosphate (UDP) pool. Extracellular UDP hijacks immunosuppressive tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) through its receptor P2Y6. Pharmacologic or genetic inhibition of CDA in cancer cells (or P2Y6 in TAMs) disrupts TAM-mediated immunosuppression, promoting cytotoxic T cell entry and susceptibility to anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1) treatment in resistant pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and melanoma models. Conversely, CDA overexpression in CDA-depleted PDACs or anti-PD-1-responsive colorectal tumors or systemic UDP administration (re)establishes resistance. In individuals with PDAC, high CDA levels in cancer cells correlate with increased TAMs, lower cytotoxic T cells and possibly anti-PD-1 resistance. In a pan-cancer single-cell atlas, CDAhigh cancer cells match with T cell cytotoxicity dysfunction and P2RY6high TAMs. Overall, we suggest CDA and P2Y6 as potential targets for cancer immunotherapy.

Asunto(s)

Resistencia a Antineoplásicos , Inmunoterapia , Uridina Difosfato , Humanos , Uridina Difosfato/metabolismo , Inmunoterapia/métodos , Resistencia a Antineoplásicos/inmunología , Animales , Ratones , Carcinoma Ductal Pancreático/inmunología , Carcinoma Ductal Pancreático/terapia , Carcinoma Ductal Pancreático/tratamiento farmacológico , Citidina Desaminasa/metabolismo , Citidina Desaminasa/genética , Macrófagos Asociados a Tumores/inmunología , Macrófagos Asociados a Tumores/metabolismo , Línea Celular Tumoral , Receptores Purinérgicos P2/metabolismo , Macrófagos/inmunología , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Linfocitos T Citotóxicos/inmunología , Linfocitos T Citotóxicos/efectos de los fármacos , Microambiente Tumoral/inmunología , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/inmunología , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/terapia , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/tratamiento farmacológico , Nucleótidos/metabolismo , Tolerancia Inmunológica , Receptor de Muerte Celular Programada 1

RESUMEN

The quality and quantity of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, particularly CD8+ T cells, are important parameters for the control of tumor growth and response to immunotherapy. Here, we show in murine and human cancers that these parameters exhibit circadian oscillations, driven by both the endogenous circadian clock of leukocytes and rhythmic leukocyte infiltration, which depends on the circadian clock of endothelial cells in the tumor microenvironment. To harness these rhythms therapeutically, we demonstrate that efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy and immune checkpoint blockade can be improved by adjusting the time of treatment during the day. Furthermore, time-of-day-dependent T cell signatures in murine tumor models predict overall survival in patients with melanoma and correlate with response to anti-PD-1 therapy. Our data demonstrate the functional significance of circadian dynamics in the tumor microenvironment and suggest the importance of leveraging these features for improving future clinical trial design and patient care.

Asunto(s)

Linfocitos T CD8-positivos , Inmunoterapia , Linfocitos Infiltrantes de Tumor , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Microambiente Tumoral , Animales , Humanos , Ratones , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos/inmunología , Línea Celular Tumoral , Relojes Circadianos , Ritmo Circadiano , Células Endoteliales/inmunología , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico/uso terapéutico , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico/farmacología , Inmunoterapia/métodos , Linfocitos Infiltrantes de Tumor/inmunología , Melanoma/inmunología , Melanoma/terapia , Melanoma/patología , Microambiente Tumoral/inmunología

RESUMEN

An important challenge in the real-world management of patients with advanced clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (aRCC) is determining who might benefit from immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). Here we performed a comprehensive multiomics mapping of aRCC in the context of ICB treatment, involving discovery analyses in a real-world data cohort followed by validation in independent cohorts. We cross-connected bulk-tumor transcriptomes across >1,000 patients with validations at single-cell and spatial resolutions, revealing a patient-specific crosstalk between proinflammatory tumor-associated macrophages and (pre-)exhausted CD8+ T cells that was distinguished by a human leukocyte antigen repertoire with higher preference for tumoral neoantigens. A cross-omics machine learning pipeline helped derive a new tumor transcriptomic footprint of neoantigen-favoring human leukocyte antigen alleles. This machine learning signature correlated with positive outcome following ICB treatment in both real-world data and independent clinical cohorts. In experiments using the RENCA-tumor mouse model, CD40 agonism combined with PD1 blockade potentiated both proinflammatory tumor-associated macrophages and CD8+ T cells, thereby achieving maximal antitumor efficacy relative to other tested regimens. Thus, we present a new multiomics and spatial map of the immune-community architecture that drives ICB response in patients with aRCC.

Asunto(s)

Linfocitos T CD8-positivos , Carcinoma de Células Renales , Antígenos HLA , Inmunoterapia , Neoplasias Renales , Carcinoma de Células Renales/inmunología , Carcinoma de Células Renales/terapia , Carcinoma de Células Renales/genética , Carcinoma de Células Renales/patología , Humanos , Neoplasias Renales/inmunología , Neoplasias Renales/terapia , Neoplasias Renales/genética , Neoplasias Renales/patología , Animales , Inmunoterapia/métodos , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos/inmunología , Ratones , Antígenos HLA/inmunología , Antígenos HLA/genética , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico/uso terapéutico , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico/farmacología , Aprendizaje Automático , Antígenos CD40/inmunología , Antígenos CD40/genética , Macrófagos Asociados a Tumores/inmunología , Transcriptoma , Receptor de Muerte Celular Programada 1/antagonistas & inhibidores , Receptor de Muerte Celular Programada 1/inmunología , Femenino

RESUMEN

Current immunotherapies provide limited benefits against T cell-depleted tumors, calling for therapeutic innovation. Using multi-omics integration of cancer patient data, we predict a type I interferon (IFN) responseHIGH state of dendritic cell (DC) vaccines, with efficacious clinical impact. However, preclinical DC vaccines recapitulating this state by combining immunogenic cancer cell death with induction of type I IFN responses fail to regress mouse tumors lacking T cell infiltrates. Here, in lymph nodes (LNs), instead of activating CD4+/CD8+ T cells, DCs stimulate immunosuppressive programmed death-ligand 1-positive (PD-L1+) LN-associated macrophages (LAMs). Moreover, DC vaccines also stimulate PD-L1+ tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). This creates two anatomically distinct niches of PD-L1+ macrophages that suppress CD8+ T cells. Accordingly, a combination of PD-L1 blockade with DC vaccines achieves significant tumor regression by depleting PD-L1+ macrophages, suppressing myeloid inflammation, and de-inhibiting effector/stem-like memory T cells. Importantly, clinical DC vaccines also potentiate T cell-suppressive PD-L1+ TAMs in glioblastoma patients. We propose that a multimodal immunotherapy and vaccination regimen is mandatory to overcome T cell-depleted tumors.

Asunto(s)

Glioblastoma , Vacunas , Humanos , Animales , Ratones , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos , Antígeno B7-H1 , Macrófagos , Células Dendríticas , Ganglios Linfáticos/metabolismo , Vacunas/metabolismo

RESUMEN

The cellular stress and immunity cycle is a cornerstone of organismal homeostasis. Stress activates intracellular and intercellular communications within a tissue or organ to initiate adaptive responses aiming to resolve the origin of this stress. If such local measures are unable to ameliorate this stress, then intercellular communications expand toward immune activation with the aim of recruiting immune cells to effectively resolve the situation while executing tissue repair to ameliorate any damage and facilitate homeostasis. This cellular stress-immunity cycle is severely dysregulated in diseased contexts like cancer. On one hand, cancer cells dysregulate the normal cellular stress responses to reorient them toward upholding growth at all costs, even at the expense of organismal integrity and homeostasis. On the other hand, the tumors severely dysregulate or inhibit various components of organismal immunity, for example, by facilitating immunosuppressive tumor landscape, lowering antigenicity, and increasing T-cell dysfunction. In this review we aim to comprehensively discuss the basis behind tumoral dysregulation of cellular stress-immunity cycle. We also offer insights into current understanding of the regulators and deregulators of this cycle and how they can be targeted for conceptualizing successful cancer immunotherapy regimen.

Asunto(s)

Neoplasias , Humanos , Inmunoterapia , Comunicación Celular , Microambiente Tumoral

RESUMEN

Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3)-expressing regulatory T cells (Treg) are the guardians of controlled immune reactions and prevent the development of autoimmune diseases. However, in the tumor context, their increased number suppresses antitumor immune responses, indicating the importance of understanding the mechanisms behind their function and stability. Metabolic reprogramming can affect Foxp3 regulation and, therefore, Treg suppressive function and fitness. Here, we performed a metabolic CRISPR/Cas9 screen and pinpointed novel candidate positive and negative metabolic regulators of Foxp3. Among the positive regulators, we revealed that targeting the GDP-fucose transporter Slc35c1, and more broadly fucosylation (Fuco), in Tregs compromises their proliferation and suppressive function both in vitro and in vivo, leading to alteration of the tumor microenvironment and impaired tumor progression and protumoral immune responses. Pharmacologic inhibition of Fuco dampened tumor immunosuppression mostly by targeting Tregs, thus resulting in reduced tumor growth. In order to substantiate these findings in humans, tumoral Tregs from patients with colorectal cancer were clustered on the basis of the expression of Fuco-related genes. FucoLOW Tregs were found to exhibit a more immunogenic profile compared with FucoHIGH Tregs. Furthermore, an enrichment of a FucoLOW signature, mainly derived from Tregs, correlated with better prognosis and response to immune checkpoint blockade in melanoma patients. In conclusion, Slc35c1-dependent Fuco is able to regulate the suppressive function of Tregs, and measuring its expression in Tregs might pave the way towards a useful biomarker model for patients with cancer. See related Spotlight by Silveria and DuPage, p. 1570.

Asunto(s)

Melanoma , Linfocitos T Reguladores , Humanos , Inmunidad , Tolerancia Inmunológica , Factores de Transcripción Forkhead/genética , Microambiente Tumoral

RESUMEN

CD8+ T cell activation via immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is successful in microsatellite instable (MSI) colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. By comparison, the success of immunotherapy against microsatellite stable (MSS) CRC is limited. Little is known about the most critical features of CRC CD8+ T cells that together determine the diverse immune landscapes and contrasting ICB responses. Hence, we pursued a deep single cell mapping of CRC CD8+ T cells on transcriptomic and T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire levels in a diverse patient cohort, with additional surface proteome validation. This revealed that CRC CD8+ T cell dynamics are underscored by complex interactions between interferon-γ signaling, tumor reactivity, TCR repertoire, (predicted) TCR antigen-specificities, and environmental cues like gut microbiome or colon tissue-specific 'self-like' features. MSI CRC CD8+ T cells showed tumor-specific activation reminiscent of canonical 'T cell hot' tumors, whereas the MSS CRC CD8+ T cells exhibited tumor unspecific or bystander-like features. This was accompanied by inflammation reminiscent of 'pseudo-T cell hot' tumors. Consequently, MSI and MSS CRC CD8+ T cells showed overlapping phenotypic features that differed dramatically in their TCR antigen-specificities. Given their high discriminating potential for CD8+ T cell features/specificities, we used the single cell tumor-reactive signaling modules in CD8+ T cells to build a bulk tumor transcriptome classification for CRC patients. This "Immune Subtype Classification" (ISC) successfully distinguished various tumoral immune landscapes that showed prognostic value and predicted immunotherapy responses in CRC patients. Thus, we deliver a unique map of CRC CD8+ T cells that drives a novel tumor immune landscape classification, with relevance for immunotherapy decision-making.

Asunto(s)

Inmunoterapia , Neoplasias , Humanos

RESUMEN

There is an urgent need for new and better biomarker modalities to estimate the risk of recurrence within the luminal-like breast cancer (BC) population. Molecular diagnostic tests used in the clinic lack accuracy in identifying patients with early luminal BC who are likely to develop metastases. This study provides proof of concept that various liquid biopsy read-outs could serve as valuable candidates to build a multi-modal biomarker model distinguishing, already at diagnosis, between early metastasizing and non-metastasizing patients. All these blood biomarkers (chemokines, microRNAs, leukemia inhibitory factor, osteopontin, and serum-induced functional myeloid signaling responses) can be measured in baseline plasma/serum samples and could be added to the existing prognostic factors to improve risk stratification and more patient-tailored treatment in early luminal BC.

Asunto(s)

Neoplasias de la Mama , MicroARNs , Humanos , Femenino , Neoplasias de la Mama/diagnóstico , Neoplasias de la Mama/genética , Neoplasias de la Mama/patología , Biomarcadores de Tumor

RESUMEN

Immunogenic cell death (ICD) refers to an immunologically distinct process of regulated cell death that activates, rather than suppresses, innate and adaptive immune responses. Such responses culminate into T cell-driven immunity against antigens derived from dying cancer cells. The potency of ICD is dependent on the immunogenicity of dying cells as defined by the antigenicity of these cells and their ability to expose immunostimulatory molecules like damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and cytokines like type I interferons (IFNs). Moreover, it is crucial that the host's immune system can adequately detect the antigenicity and adjuvanticity of these dying cells. Over the years, several well-known chemotherapies have been validated as potent ICD inducers, including (but not limited to) anthracyclines, paclitaxels, and oxaliplatin. Such ICD-inducing chemotherapeutic drugs can serve as important combinatorial partners for anti-cancer immunotherapies against highly immuno-resistant tumors. In this Trial Watch, we describe current trends in the preclinical and clinical integration of ICD-inducing chemotherapy in the existing immuno-oncological paradigms.

Asunto(s)

Antineoplásicos , Neoplasias , Humanos , Muerte Celular , Muerte Celular Inmunogénica , Antineoplásicos/farmacología , Antineoplásicos/uso terapéutico , Citocinas/metabolismo

RESUMEN

Clinically relevant immunological biomarkers that discriminate between diverse hypofunctional states of tumor-associated CD8+ T cells remain disputed. Using multiomics analysis of CD8+ T cell features across multiple patient cohorts and tumor types, we identified tumor niche-dependent exhausted and other types of hypofunctional CD8+ T cell states. CD8+ T cells in "supportive" niches, like melanoma or lung cancer, exhibited features of tumor reactivity-driven exhaustion (CD8+ TEX). These included a proficient effector memory phenotype, an expanded T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire linked to effector exhaustion signaling, and a cancer-relevant T cell-activating immunopeptidome composed of largely shared cancer antigens or neoantigens. In contrast, "nonsupportive" niches, like glioblastoma, were enriched for features of hypofunctionality distinct from canonical exhaustion. This included immature or insufficiently activated T cell states, high wound healing signatures, nonexpanded TCR repertoires linked to anti-inflammatory signaling, high T cell-recognizable self-epitopes, and an antiproliferative state linked to stress or prodeath responses. In situ spatial mapping of glioblastoma highlighted the prevalence of dysfunctional CD4+:CD8+ T cell interactions, whereas ex vivo single-cell secretome mapping of glioblastoma CD8+ T cells confirmed negligible effector functionality and a promyeloid, wound healing-like chemokine profile. Within immuno-oncology clinical trials, anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) immunotherapy facilitated glioblastoma's tolerogenic disparities, whereas dendritic cell (DC) vaccines partly corrected them. Accordingly, recipients of a DC vaccine for glioblastoma had high effector memory CD8+ T cells and evidence of antigen-specific immunity. Collectively, we provide an atlas for assessing different CD8+ T cell hypofunctional states in immunogenic versus nonimmunogenic cancers.

Asunto(s)

Glioblastoma , Neoplasias Pulmonares , Humanos , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos , Glioblastoma/metabolismo , Multiómica , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfocitos T/metabolismo

RESUMEN

Despite their low abundance in the tumor microenvironment (TME), classical type 1 dendritic cells (cDC1) play a pivotal role in anti-cancer immunity, and their abundance positively correlates with patient survival. However, their interaction with CD4+ T-cells to potentially enable the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response has not been elucidated. Here we show that contact with activated CD4+ T-cells enables human ex vivo cDC1, but no other DC types, to induce a CTL response to cell-associated tumor antigens. Single cell transcriptomics reveals that CD4+ T-cell help uniquely optimizes cDC1 in many functions that support antigen cross-presentation and T-cell priming, while these changes don't apply to other DC types. We robustly identify "helped" cDC1 in the TME of a multitude of human cancer types by the overlap in their transcriptomic signature with that of recently defined, tumor-infiltrating DC states that prove to be positively prognostic. As predicted from the functional effects of CD4+ T-cell help, the transcriptomic signature of "helped" cDC1 correlates with tumor infiltration by CTLs and Thelper(h)-1 cells, overall survival and response to PD-1-targeting immunotherapy. These findings reveal a critical role for CD4+ T-cell help in enabling cDC1 function in the TME and may establish the helped cDC1 transcriptomic signature as diagnostic marker in cancer.

Asunto(s)

Linfocitos T CD8-positivos , Neoplasias , Humanos , Neoplasias/metabolismo , Presentación de Antígeno , Linfocitos T Citotóxicos , Células Dendríticas , Linfocitos T Colaboradores-Inductores/metabolismo , Microambiente Tumoral

RESUMEN

FOXP3-expressing regulatory T cells (Treg ) are indispensable for immune homeostasis and tolerance, and in addition tissue-resident Treg have been found to perform noncanonical, tissue-specific functions. For optimal tolerogenic function during inflammatory disease, Treg are equipped with mechanisms that assure lineage stability. Treg lineage stability is closely linked to the installation and maintenance of a lineage-specific epigenetic landscape, specifically a Treg -specific DNA demethylation pattern. At the same time, for local and directed immune regulation Treg must possess a level of functional plasticity that requires them to partially acquire T helper cell (TH ) transcriptional programs-then referred to as TH -like Treg . Unleashing TH programs in Treg , however, is not without risk and may threaten the epigenetic stability of Treg with consequently pathogenic ex-Treg contributing to (auto-) inflammatory conditions. Here, we review how the Treg -stabilizing epigenetic landscape is installed and maintained, and further discuss the development, necessity and lineage instability risks of TH 1-, TH 2-, TH 17-like Treg and follicular Treg .

Asunto(s)

Tolerancia Inmunológica , Linfocitos T Reguladores , Factores de Transcripción Forkhead