LRIG1 engages ligand VISTA and impairs tumor-specific CD8+ T cell responses

ABSTRACT: Cancer immunotherapies boost antitumor immunity and improve the survival of cancer patients. V-domain Immunoglobulin Suppressor of T cell Activation (VISTA) is an immune 20 checkpoint target but presents elusive signaling mechanisms. We report a novel VISTA binding partner, Leucine-Rich Repeats and Immunoglobulin Like Domains 1 (LRIG1), which acts as an inhibitory receptor by engaging VISTA and suppressing T cell receptor signaling pathways. Mice with T cell-specific LRIG1 deletion developed superior antitumor T cell responses. Mechanistically, LRIG1-deficient tumor-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) exhibited longer 25 persistence due to improved expansion and survival and greater effector function. Sustained tumor control was also associated with a reduction of quiescent CTLs (TCF1+ CD62Lhi PD-1low) and a reciprocal increase in progenitor and memory-like CTLs (TCF1+ PD-1+). In human melanoma, an elevated LRIG1 expression on tumor-infiltrating CD8+ CTLs correlated with resistance to immunotherapies. Taken together, these results delineate the role of LRIG1 as an inhibitory 30 immune checkpoint receptor and propose a rationale for targeting the VISTA/LRIG1 axis for cancer immunotherapy.

INSTRUMENT(S):

ORGANISM(S): Mus Musculus (mouse)

TISSUE(S): T Cell

DISEASE(S): Cell Type Cancer

SUBMITTER: Belinda Willard  

LAB HEAD: Li Lily Wang

PROVIDER: PXD050084 | Pride | 2024-10-17

REPOSITORIES: Pride