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Cytotoxic CD39+ tumor-associated NK cells respond to NKG2A blockade in lung cancer (10X Multiome)

ABSTRACT: Natural killer (NK) cell–targeting immunotherapies are emerging, yet the differentiation and functional states of tumor-infiltrating NK cells remain poorly understood. Using matched single-nucleus RNA and ATAC sequencing of samples from patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we resolved the transcriptional and epigenetic landscape of intratumoral NK cells. We identified two tumor-associated NK (taNK) cell subsets marked by expression of ITGAE (CD103) and ITGA1 (CD49a) that display features of tissue residency and dysfunction while preserving cytotoxic function. Trajectory and regulon analyses revealed an inflammation-driven transition from early granzyme K (GZMK)+ NK cells toward an ENTPD1+ (CD39+) effector state characterized by interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) programs. Functional profiling established CD39+ taNK cells as the dominant cytotoxic NK cell population with superior killing capacity that was further potentiated by NKG2A blockade. This study offers mechanistic insights into NK cell differentiation in NSCLC and establishes CD39+ taNK cells as a targetable effector population for immunotherapy.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE304741 | GEO | 2026/06/05

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Background Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) endows cancer cells with pro-metastatic properties, which appear most effective when cells enter an intermediate hybrid (H) state, characterized by integrated mesenchymal (M) and epithelial (E) traits. The reasons for this advantage are poorly known and, especially, it is totally unexplored whether the interplay between H-cells and NK cells could have a role. Here we characterize the pro-metastatic mechanics of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) H-cells and their subset of cancer-initiating cells (CICs), dissecting crucial interactions with NK cells. Methods Human lung cancer cell lines and sub-lines representative of E, M, or H states, assessed by proteomics, were analysed in vivo for their tumor-forming and disseminating capabilities. Interactions with NK cells were investigated in vitro using migration assays, cytotoxic degranulation assays and evaluation of CD133+ CICs modulation after co-culture, and validated in vivo through NK cell neutralization assays. Correlation between EMT status, NK cell infiltration, and survival data, was evaluated in a cohort of surgically resected NSCLC cases (n=79). Results We demonstrated that H-cells, have limited dissemination capability but show highest potential to initiate metastases in vivo. This property was related to their ability to escape NK cell surveillance. Mechanistically, H-cells expressed low levels of NK-attracting chemokines (CXCL1 and CXCL8), generating poorly infiltrated metastases. Accordingly, proteomics and GO enrichment analysis of E, H, M cell lines showed that the related secretory processes could change during EMT. Furthermore, H-CICs uniquely expressed high levels of the inhibitory ligand B7-H3, which protected H-CIC from NK cell-mediated clearance. In vivo neutralization assays confirmed that, indeed, the pro-metastatic properties of H-cells are poorly controlled by NK cells. Finally, the analysis of patients revealed that detection of hybrid phenotypes associated with low NK infiltration in NSCLC clinical specimens could identify a subset of patients with poor prognosis. Conclusions Our study demonstrates that H-cells play a central role in the metastatic spread in NSCLC. Such pro-metastatic advantage of H-cells is supported by their altered interaction with NK cells and by the critical role of B7H3 in preserving their H-CIC component, indicating B7H3 as a potential target in combined NK-based therapies.

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Cytotoxic CD39+ tumor-associated NK cells respond to NKG2A blockade in lung cancer (10X Multiome)

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