Tumor-intrinsic sensitivity to the pro-apoptotic effects of IFN-γ is a major determinant of CD4⁺ CAR T-cell antitumor activity.

ABSTRACT: CD4⁺ T cells and CD4⁺ chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells display highly variable antitumor activity in preclinical models and in patients; however, the mechanisms dictating how and when CD4⁺ T cells promote tumor regression are incompletely understood. With the help of functional intravital imaging, we report that interferon (IFN)-γ production but not perforin-mediated cytotoxicity was the dominant mechanism for tumor elimination by anti-CD19 CD4⁺ CAR T cells. Mechanistically, mouse or human CD4⁺ CAR T-cell-derived IFN-γ diffused extensively to act on tumor cells at distance selectively killing tumors sensitive to cytokine-induced apoptosis, including antigen-negative variants. In anti-CD19 CAR T-cell-treated patients exhibiting e

SUBMITTER: Boulch M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10368531 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature