[HTML][HTML] Hypoxia supports differentiation of terminally exhausted CD8 T cells

N Bannoud, T Dalotto-Moreno, L Kindgard… - Frontiers in …, 2021 - frontiersin.org
N Bannoud, T Dalotto-Moreno, L Kindgard, PA García, AG Blidner, KV Mariño
Frontiers in immunology, 2021frontiersin.org
Hypoxia, angiogenesis, and immunosuppression have been proposed to be interrelated
events that fuel tumor progression and impair the clinical effectiveness of anti-tumor
therapies. Here we present new mechanistic data highlighting the role of hypoxia in fine-
tuning CD8 T cell exhaustion in vitro, in an attempt to reconcile seemingly opposite evidence
regarding the impact of hypoxia on functional features of exhausted CD8 T cells. Focusing
on the recently characterized terminally-differentiated and progenitor exhausted CD8 T cells …
Hypoxia, angiogenesis, and immunosuppression have been proposed to be interrelated events that fuel tumor progression and impair the clinical effectiveness of anti-tumor therapies. Here we present new mechanistic data highlighting the role of hypoxia in fine-tuning CD8 T cell exhaustion in vitro, in an attempt to reconcile seemingly opposite evidence regarding the impact of hypoxia on functional features of exhausted CD8 T cells. Focusing on the recently characterized terminally-differentiated and progenitor exhausted CD8 T cells, we found that both hypoxia and its regulated mediator, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A, promote the differentiation of PD-1+ TIM-3+ CXCR5+ terminally exhausted-like CD8 T cells at the expense of PD-1+ TIM-3- progenitor-like subsets without affecting tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon (IFN)-γ production or granzyme B (GZMB) expression by these subpopulations. Interestingly, hypoxia accentuated the proangiogenic secretory profile in exhausted CD8 T cells. VEGF-A was the main factor differentially secreted by exhausted CD8 T cells under hypoxic conditions. In this sense, we found that VEGF-A contributes to generation of terminally exhausted CD8 T cells during in vitro differentiation. Altogether, our findings highlight the reciprocal regulation between hypoxia, angiogenesis, and immunosuppression, providing a rational basis to optimize synergistic combinations of antiangiogenic and immunotherapeutic strategies, with the overarching goal of improving the efficacy of these treatments.
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