[PDF][PDF] Antigen dominance hierarchies shape TCF1+ progenitor CD8 T cell phenotypes in tumors

ML Burger, AM Cruz, GE Crossland, G Gaglia… - Cell, 2021 - cell.com
ML Burger, AM Cruz, GE Crossland, G Gaglia, CC Ritch, SE Blatt, A Bhutkar, D Canner…
Cell, 2021cell.com
CD8 T cell responses against different tumor neoantigens occur simultaneously, yet little is
known about the interplay between responses and its impact on T cell function and tumor
control. In mouse lung adenocarcinoma, we found that immunodominance is established in
tumors, wherein CD8 T cell expansion is predominantly driven by the antigen that most
stably binds MHC. T cells responding to subdominant antigens were enriched for a TCF1+
progenitor phenotype correlated with response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) …
Summary
CD8 T cell responses against different tumor neoantigens occur simultaneously, yet little is known about the interplay between responses and its impact on T cell function and tumor control. In mouse lung adenocarcinoma, we found that immunodominance is established in tumors, wherein CD8 T cell expansion is predominantly driven by the antigen that most stably binds MHC. T cells responding to subdominant antigens were enriched for a TCF1+ progenitor phenotype correlated with response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. However, the subdominant T cell response did not preferentially benefit from ICB due to a dysfunctional subset of TCF1+ cells marked by CCR6 and Tc17 differentiation. Analysis of human samples and sequencing datasets revealed that CCR6+ TCF1+ cells exist across human cancers and are not correlated with ICB response. Vaccination eliminated CCR6+ TCF1+ cells and dramatically improved the subdominant response, highlighting a strategy to optimally engage concurrent neoantigen responses against tumors.
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