NKG7 Is Required for Optimal Antitumor T-cell Immunity

No Thumbnail Available
File version
Author(s)
Li, Xian-Yang
Corvino, Dillon
Nowlan, Bianca
Aguilera, Amelia Roman
Ng, Susanna S
Braun, Matthias
Cillo, Anthony R
Bald, Tobias
Smyth, Mark J
Engwerda, Christian R
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
2022
Size
File type(s)
Location
License
Abstract

Tumor antigen-specific CD8 T cells play a critical role in antitumor immunity. Clinical trials reinvigorating the immune system via immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) have shown remarkable clinical promise. Numerous studies have identified an association between NKG7 expression and patient outcome across different malignancies. However, aside from these correlative observations, very little is known about NKG7 and its role in antitumor immunity. Herein, we utilized single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets, NKG7-deficient mice, NKG7- reporter mice, and mouse tumor models to investigate the role of NKG7 in neoantigen-mediated tumor rejection and ICB immunotherapy. scRNA-seq of tumors from patients with metastatic melanoma or head and neck squamous cell carcinoma revealed that NKG7 expression is highly associated with cytotoxicity and specifically expressed by CD8 T cells and natural killer (NK) cells. Furthermore, we identified a key role for NKG7 in controlling intratumor T-cell accumulation and activation. NKG7 was upregulated on intratumor antigen-specific CD8 T cells and NK cells and required for the accumulation of T cells in the tumor microenvironment. Accordingly, neoantigenexpressing mouse tumors grew faster in Nkg7-deficient mice. Strikingly, efficacy of single or combination ICB was significantly reduced in Nkg7-deficient mice.

Journal Title

Cancer Immunology Research

Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume

10

Issue

2

Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject

Immunology

Oncology and carcinogenesis

Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences

Science & Technology

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Oncology

Immunology

NATURAL-KILLER-CELLS

Persistent link to this record
Citation

Li, X-Y; Corvino, D; Nowlan, B; Aguilera, AR; Ng, SS; Braun, M; Cillo, AR; Bald, T; Smyth, MJ; Engwerda, CR, NKG7 Is Required for Optimal Antitumor T-cell Immunity, Cancer Immunology Research, 2022, 10 (2), pp. 154-161

Collections