Similar Datasets
Project description:Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapies revitalize anti-cancer responses by intercepting protein-protein interactions between exhausted CD8 T (Tex) cells and cancer cells (e.g. PD-1:PD-L1). However, up to 50% of patients receiving ICIs relapse, warranting further interrogation of the underpinnings of Tex. We conducted RNA-seq meta-analysis of Tex versus effector (Teff) mouse CD8 T cells, and highlighted NRF2 transcriptional targets as the most upregulated gene set in Tex cells. LCMV or cancer inoculation of mice bearing NRF2 hyperactive—or Keap1-/- (NRF2 negative regulator)—T cells demonstrated that NRF2 drives Tex; evidenced by increased co-inhibitory marker (PD-1/TIM-3) expression and reduced cytokine (IFN-g/Granzyme-B) production. RNA-seq of Keap1-/- highlight Ptgir—which encodes the prostacyclin lipid receptor— as the most upregulated gene versus WT T cells. Accordingly, PTGIR knockout in NRF2-hyperactive/ Tex cells decreased PD-1/TIM-3 expression, increased cytokine production, and attenuated tumor growth. Our data underscore PTGIR as a NRF2-regulated Tex driver and illuminate an unconventional immune checkpoint class potentially based on protein-lipid interactions
2025-04-25 | PXD052688 | Pride
Project description:Blocking PD-1 can reinvigorate exhausted CD8 T cells (TEX) and improve control of chronic infections and cancer. One potential advantage of this immunotherapy is durable protection if immune memory can be established. It is unclear, however, whether blocking PD-1 can reprogram TEX into effector (TEFF) or durable memory T cells (TMEM). Here, we found reinvigoration of TEX by PD-L1 blockade caused re-acquisition of some features of TEFF, but minimal memory development. We used microarray analysis to profile exhausted cells from anti-PD-L1 mice after two weeks of treatment to study if PD-L1 blockade caused re-acquistion of some feature of effector or memory cells.
2016-10-31 | GSE86796 | GEO
Project description:Exhausted CD8 T cells (TEX) arise during chronic viral infections and cancer and limit disease control. Three major sequential epigenetic remodeling events occur as naïve CD8 T cells (TN) differentiate into TEX: initial activation, early bifurcation between effector (TEFF) and TEX precursors, and later differentiation of effector-like and terminal TEX subsets from progenitor TEX. The epigenetic factors mediating these transitions remain poorly understood. Here, we uncovered distinct roles for two versions of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, BAF and PBAF, in TEX differentiation using in vivo CRISPR screening. Disruption of BAF ablated antigen-specific CD8 T cells early in chronic infection, suggesting a requirement for BAF-mediated remodeling in the early epigenetic remodeling events. In contrast, depletion of PBAF subunits enhanced TEX formation and promoted progenitor TEX differentiation into more differentiated TEX subsets by limiting accessibility of TCF-1 binding sites. Loss of PBAF improved tumor control alone and in combination with anti-PD-L1. Simultaneous depletion of BAF- and PBAF-specific subunits revealed that BAF is required for the beneficial impact of loss of PBAF on TEX differentiation. Thus, BAF and PBAF regulate epigenetic transitions in CD8 T cell differentiation, with PBAF acting at a later stage in exhaustion as a guardian to limit full TEX differentiation and preserve TEX progenitor populations with implications for cancer immunotherapy.
2023-05-31 | GSE211410 | GEO
Project description:Exhausted CD8 T cells (TEX) arise during chronic viral infections and cancer and limit disease control. Three major sequential epigenetic remodeling events occur as naïve CD8 T cells (TN) differentiate into TEX: initial activation, early bifurcation between effector (TEFF) and TEX precursors, and later differentiation of effector-like and terminal TEX subsets from progenitor TEX. The epigenetic factors mediating these transitions remain poorly understood. Here, we uncovered distinct roles for two versions of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, BAF and PBAF, in TEX differentiation using in vivo CRISPR screening. Disruption of BAF ablated antigen-specific CD8 T cells early in chronic infection, suggesting a requirement for BAF-mediated remodeling in the early epigenetic remodeling events. In contrast, depletion of PBAF subunits enhanced TEX formation and promoted progenitor TEX differentiation into more differentiated TEX subsets by limiting accessibility of TCF-1 binding sites. Loss of PBAF improved tumor control alone and in combination with anti-PD-L1. Simultaneous depletion of BAF- and PBAF-specific subunits revealed that BAF is required for the beneficial impact of loss of PBAF on TEX differentiation. Thus, BAF and PBAF regulate epigenetic transitions in CD8 T cell differentiation, with PBAF acting at a later stage in exhaustion as a guardian to limit full TEX differentiation and preserve TEX progenitor populations with implications for cancer immunotherapy.
2023-05-31 | GSE211409 | GEO
Project description:CD8 T cell exhaustion is a major barrier limiting anti-tumor therapy. Though checkpoint blockade temporarily improves exhausted CD8 T cell (Tex) function, the underlying epigenetic landscape of Tex remains largely unchanged, preventing their durable “reinvigoration.” Whereas the HMG-box transcription factor TOX has been identified as a critical initiator of Tex epigenetic programming, it remains unclear whether TOX plays an ongoing role in preserving Tex biology after cells commit to exhaustion. Here, we decoupled the role of TOX in the initiation versus maintenance of CD8 T cell exhaustion by temporally deleting TOX in established Tex cells. Induced TOX ablation in committed Tex resulted in apoptotic-driven loss of Tex, reduced expression of inhibitory receptors including PD-1, and a pronounced decrease in terminally differentiated subsets of Tex cells. Simultaneous gene expression and epigenetic profiling revealed a critical role for TOX in ensuring ongoing chromatin accessibility and transcriptional patterns for key Tex gene modules in committed Tex cells. Moreover, when exposed to strong effector-differentiation signals, established Tex in which TOX had been deleted acquired an altered chromatin landscape with increased accessibility at cytotoxic genes typically accessible in Teff cells, undergoing partial reprogramming into a more functional state. Together, these findings suggest that continuous TOX expression in established Tex functions as a durable epigenetic barrier to reinforce the Tex developmental fate by simultaneously maintaining Tex epigenetic commitment while restraining effector reprogramming. Manipulation of TOX even after Tex establishment could therefore provide a therapeutic opportunity to rewire Tex biology in settings of chronic infection or cancer
2025-03-01 | GSE255043 | GEO
Project description:CD8 T cell exhaustion is a major barrier limiting anti-tumor therapy. Though checkpoint blockade temporarily improves exhausted CD8 T cell (Tex) function, the underlying epigenetic landscape of Tex remains largely unchanged, preventing their durable “reinvigoration.” Whereas the HMG-box transcription factor TOX has been identified as a critical initiator of Tex epigenetic programming, it remains unclear whether TOX plays an ongoing role in preserving Tex biology after cells commit to exhaustion. Here, we decoupled the role of TOX in the initiation versus maintenance of CD8 T cell exhaustion by temporally deleting TOX in established Tex cells. Induced TOX ablation in committed Tex resulted in apoptotic-driven loss of Tex, reduced expression of inhibitory receptors including PD-1, and a pronounced decrease in terminally differentiated subsets of Tex cells. Simultaneous gene expression and epigenetic profiling revealed a critical role for TOX in ensuring ongoing chromatin accessibility and transcriptional patterns for key Tex gene modules in committed Tex cells. Moreover, when exposed to strong effector-differentiation signals, established Tex in which TOX had been deleted acquired an altered chromatin landscape with increased accessibility at cytotoxic genes typically accessible in Teff cells, undergoing partial reprogramming into a more functional state. Together, these findings suggest that continuous TOX expression in established Tex functions as a durable epigenetic barrier to reinforce the Tex developmental fate by simultaneously maintaining Tex epigenetic commitment while restraining effector reprogramming. Manipulation of TOX even after Tex establishment could therefore provide a therapeutic opportunity to rewire Tex biology in settings of chronic infection or cancer
2025-03-01 | GSE255042 | GEO
Project description:During persistent antigen stimulation, such as in chronic infections and cancer, T cells differentiate into a hypofunctional exhausted state to survive. Exhausted PD-1+ CD8 T cell responses are sustained by TCF-1+ precursors (Tpex) that self-renew or differentiate into exhausted T cells (Tex) that retain some effector function. Tpex have high expression of the costimulatory molecule CD28 and are the cells that respond to PD-1 targeted immunotherapy. Here, we demonstrate that abrogation of CD28 signaling impairs maintenance of anti-viral T cell responses during chronic infection. Low-level CD28 signaling was required to preserve mitochondrial fitness and self-renewal of Tpex, whereas stronger CD28 signaling enhanced glycolysis and promoted Tpex differentiation. Our findings show that CD28 signaling is essential for long-term maintenance of antigen-specific T cells during chronic stimulation, and suggest that the activation status of antigen presenting cells determines Tpex differentiation into more functional effector-like Tex cells.
2023-07-01 | GSE200506 | GEO
Project description:CD8+ T cell exhaustion is a complex process involving the differentiation of persistently activated CD8+ T cells into functionally distinct cell subsets. Here, we investigated the role of the key epigenetic regulator histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) in the differentiation of exhausted T (Tex) cells during chronic viral infection. We uncovered that HDAC1 controls the generation and maintenance of effector-like CX3CR1+ Tex cells in a CD8+ T cell-intrinsic manner. Deletion of HDAC1 led to expansion of an alternative Tex subset characterized by high expression of T cell exhaustion markers, and this was accompanied by elevated viremia. HDAC1 bound to and facilitated an open chromatin state of effector-like signature gene loci in progenitor Tex cells, thereby priming cell fate specification toward the CX3CR1+ Tex subset. Our study un-covers a selective role for HDAC1 in CX3CR1+ Tex subset differentiation, which is essential for controlling viral load during chronic infection.
2025-05-22 | GSE255886 | GEO
Project description:CD8+ T cell exhaustion is a complex process involving the differentiation of persistently activated CD8+ T cells into functionally distinct cell subsets. Here, we investigated the role of the key epigenetic regulator histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) in the differentiation of exhausted T (Tex) cells during chronic viral infection. We uncovered that HDAC1 controls the generation and maintenance of effector-like CX3CR1+ Tex cells in a CD8+ T cell-intrinsic manner. Deletion of HDAC1 led to expansion of an alternative Tex subset characterized by high expression of T cell exhaustion markers, and this was accompanied by elevated viremia. HDAC1 bound to and facilitated an open chromatin state of effector-like signature gene loci in progenitor Tex cells, thereby priming cell fate specification toward the CX3CR1+ Tex subset. Our study un-covers a selective role for HDAC1 in CX3CR1+ Tex subset differentiation, which is essential for controlling viral load during chronic infection.
2025-05-22 | GSE255884 | GEO
Project description:CD8+ T cell exhaustion is a complex process involving the differentiation of persistently activated CD8+ T cells into functionally distinct cell subsets. Here, we investigated the role of the key epigenetic regulator histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) in the differentiation of exhausted T (Tex) cells during chronic viral infection. We uncovered that HDAC1 controls the generation and maintenance of effector-like CX3CR1+ Tex cells in a CD8+ T cell-intrinsic manner. Deletion of HDAC1 led to expansion of an alternative Tex subset characterized by high expression of T cell exhaustion markers, and this was accompanied by elevated viremia. HDAC1 bound to and facilitated an open chromatin state of effector-like signature gene loci in progenitor Tex cells, thereby priming cell fate specification toward the CX3CR1+ Tex subset. Our study un-covers a selective role for HDAC1 in CX3CR1+ Tex subset differentiation, which is essential for controlling viral load during chronic infection.
2025-05-22 | GSE297018 | GEO