Chemerin triggers migration of a CD8 T cell subset with natural killer cell functions.

ABSTRACT: The recruitment of cells with effector functions into the tumor microenvironment holds potential for delaying cancer progression. We show that subsets of human CD28-effector CD8 T cells, CCR7^- CD45RO⁺ effector memory, and CCR7^- CD45RO^- effector memory RA phenotypes, express the chemerin receptor CMKLR1 and bind chemerin via the receptor. CMKLR1-expressing human CD8 effector memory T cells present gene, protein, and cytotoxic features of NK cells. Active chemerin promotes chemotaxis of CMKLR1-expressing CD8 effector memory cells and triggers activation of the α4β1 integrin. In an experimental prostate tumor mouse model, chemerin expression is downregulated in the tumor microenvironment, which is associated with few tumor-infiltrating CD8⁺

SUBMITTER: Ballet R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10556222 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature