Journal article icon

Journal article

Let-7 enhances murine anti-tumor CD8 T cell responses by promoting memory and antagonizing terminal differentiation

Abstract:
The success of the CD8 T cell-mediated immune response against infections and tumors depends on the formation of a long-lived memory pool, and the protection of effector cells from exhaustion. The advent of checkpoint blockade therapy has significantly improved anti-tumor therapeutic outcomes by reversing CD8 T cell exhaustion, but fails to generate effector cells with memory potential. Here, using in vivo mouse models, we show that let-7 miRNAs determine CD8 T cell fate, where maintenance of let-7 expression during early cell activation results in memory CD8 T cell formation and tumor clearance. Conversely, let-7-deficiency promotes the generation of a terminal effector population that becomes vulnerable to exhaustion and cell death in immunosuppressive environments and fails to reject tumors. Mechanistically, let-7 restrains metabolic changes that occur during T cell activation through the inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and production of reactive oxygen species, potent drivers of terminal differentiation and exhaustion. Thus, our results reveal a role for let-7 in the time-sensitive support of memory formation and the protection of effector cells from exhaustion. Overall, our data suggest a strategy in developing next-generation immunotherapies by preserving the multipotency of effector cells rather than enhancing the efficacy of differentiation.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

Actions


Access Document


Files:
Publisher copy:
10.1038/s41467-023-40959-7

Authors


More by this author
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0003-0121-8899
More by this author
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0001-8983-2118


More from this funder
Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/01cwqze88
Grant:
R01 AI146188


Publisher:
Springer Nature
Journal:
Nature Communications More from this journal
Volume:
14
Issue:
1
Article number:
5585
Publication date:
2023-09-11
Acceptance date:
2023-08-17
DOI:
EISSN:
2041-1723
Pmid:
37696797


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
1528693
Local pid:
pubs:1528693
Deposit date:
2024-09-24

Terms of use



Views and Downloads






If you are the owner of this record, you can report an update to it here: Report update to this record

TO TOP