Cited by 130T-cell and B-cell ImmunologyCancer Immunotherapy and BiomarkersImmunotherapy and Immune Responses

Functional Heterogeneity of CD4+ Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes With a Resident Memory Phenotype in NSCLC

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Oja, Anna E., Piet, Berber, van der Zwan, David, Blaauwgeers, Hans, Mensink, Mark, de Kivit, Sander, Borst, Jannie, Nolte, Martijn A. +3 more·2018·Frontiers in Immunology

Abstract

Resident memory T cells (TRM) inhabit peripheral tissues and are critical for protection against localized infections. Recently, it has become evident that CD103+ TRM are not only important in combating secondary infections, but also for the elimination of tumor cells. In several solid cancers, intratumoral CD103+CD8+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), with TRM properties, are a positive prognostic marker. To better understand the role of TRM in tumors, we performed a detailed characterization of CD8+ and CD4+ TIL phenotype and functional properties in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Frequencies of CD8+ and CD4+ T cell infiltrates in tumors were comparable, but we observed a sharp contrast in TRM ratios compared to surrounding lung tissue. The majority of both CD4+ and CD8+ TILs expressed CD69 and a subset also expressed CD103, both hallmarks of TRM. While CD103+CD8+ T cells were enriched in tumors, CD103+CD4+ T cell frequencies were decreased compared to surrounding lung tissue. Furthermore, CD103+CD4+ and CD103+CD8+ TILs showed multiple characteristics of TRM, such as elevated expression of CXCR6 and CD49a, and decreased expression of T-bet and Eomes. In line with the immunomodulatory role of the tumor microenvironment, CD8+ and CD4+ TILs expressed high levels of inhibitory receptors 2B4, CTLA-4, and PD-1, with the highest levels found on CD103+ TILs. Strikingly, CD103+CD4+ TILs were the most potent producers of TNF- and IFN-, while other TIL subsets lacked such cytokine production. Whereas CD103+CD4+PD-1low TILs produced the most effector cytokines, CD103+CD4+PD-1++ and CD69+CD4+PD-1++ TILs produced CXCL13. Furthermore, a large proportion of TILs expressed co-stimulatory receptors CD27 and CD28, unlike lung TRM, suggesting a less differentiated phenotype. Agonistic triggering of these receptors improved cytokine production of CD103+CD4+ and CD69+CD8+ TILs. Our findings thus provide a rationale to target CD103+CD4+ TILs and add co-stimulation to current therapies to improve the efficacy of immunotherapies and cancer vaccines.

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Authors
Oja, A. E., Piet, B., van der Zwan, D., Blaauwgeers, H., Mensink, M., de Kivit, S., Borst, J., Nolte, M. A., van Lier, R. A. W., Stark, R., & Hombrink, P.
Affiliations
  • Sanquin (NL)
  • OLVG (NL)
  • The Netherlands Cancer Institute (NL)
Corresponding author
  • Oja, Anna E.
  • Hombrink, Pleun
Venue
Frontiers in Immunology
Published
2018-11-16
Volume
9
Pages
2654-2654
ISSN
1664-3224 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2901131610
Cited by
130
References
100
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 5
FWCI
5.37
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Frontiers in Immunology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Pure Amsterdam UMC (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
  • Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › T-cell and B-cell Immunology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
Keywords
tissue-resident memory T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, non-small cell lung cancer, CD103, CD69, CXCR6, CD49a, PD-1, CTLA-4, 2B4, inhibitory receptors, T cell differentiation, costimulatory receptors, CXCL13, TNF-α, interferon-gamma, tumor microenvironment, T cell heterogeneity, adoptive T cell therapy
MeSH terms
Receptors, CXCR6, Aged, Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung, Female, Humans, Immunologic Memory, Lung, Lung Neoplasms, Male, Middle Aged, Phenotype, Prognosis, CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Antigens, CD, Cytokines, Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating, CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Integrin alpha Chains, Integrin alpha1, Granzymes, Tumor Microenvironment, Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor

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