Slc7a5 promotes T cell anti-tumor immunity through sustaining cytotoxic T lymphocyte effector function.

ABSTRACT: Tryptophan (Trp) metabolites have emerged as key regulators of host tumor immunity and cancer patient response to immunotherapy. However, the function of and mechanism underlying Trp in tumor-activated CTLs in the tumor microenvironment are incompletely understood. Using a defined co-culture system of tumor-specific CTLs and cognate antigen-expressing tumor cells, we performed a genome-wide metabolomics screening and observed that Trp level is elevated in the tumor cell-activated CTLs. Parallel genome-wide RNA-Sequencing and ATAC-Sequencing analysis determined that tumor-specific CTLs respond to tumor cells by transcriptionally activating Slc7a5 expression. Pharmacological inhibition of Slc7a5 decreased Trp uptake in tumor-activated CTLs and suppressed CTL lytic activity in killing tumor c

SUBMITTER: Lu C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12560258 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature