Inhibitory CD161 Receptor Identified in Glioma-infiltrating T cells by Single Cell Analysis
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: T cells are critical effectors of cancer immunotherapies, but little is known about their gene expression programs in diffuse gliomas. Here, we leverage single-cell RNA-seq to chart the gene expression and clonal landscape of tumor-infiltrating T cells across 31 patients with IDH-wildtype glioblastoma and IDH-mutant glioma. We identify potential effectors of anti-tumor immunity in subsets of T cells that co-express cytotoxic programs and several NK cell genes. Analysis of clonally expanded tumor-infiltrating T cells further identifies the NK gene KLRB1 (encoding CD161) as a candidate inhibitory receptor. Accordingly, genetic inactivation of KLRB1 or antibody-mediated CD161 blockade enhances T cell-mediated killing of glioma cells in vitro and their anti-tumor function in vivo. KLRB1 and its associated transcriptional program are also expressed by substantial T cell populations in other human cancers. Our work provides an atlas of T cells in gliomas and highlights CD161 and other NK cell receptors as immunotherapy targets.
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE163108 | GEO | 2021/02/17
REPOSITORIES: GEO
ACCESS DATA