How metabolism bridles cytotoxic CD8⁺ T cells through epigenetic modifications.

ABSTRACT: In the direct competition for metabolic resources between cancer cells and tumor-infiltrating CD8⁺ T cells, the latter are bound to lose out. These effector lymphocytes are therefore rendered exhausted or dysfunctional. Emerging insights into the mechanisms of T cell unresponsiveness in the tumor microenvironment (TME) point towards epigenetic mechanisms as crucial regulatory factors. In this review, we discuss the effects of characteristic components of the TME, i.e. glucose/amino acid dearth with elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), on DNA methylation and histone modifications in CD8⁺ T cells. We then take a closer look at the translational potential of epigenetic interventions that aim to improve current immunotherapeutic strategies, including the adop

SUBMITTER: Van Acker HH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9681987 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature