FOXP3+ regulatory T Cell perturbation mediated by the IFNγ-STAT1-IFITM3 feedback loop is essential for anti-tumor immunity
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ABSTRACT: Targeting tumor-infiltrating Treg cells is an efficient way to evoke an anti-tumor immune response. How Treg cells fragility and stability are regulated remains largely unknown. IFITM3 and STAT1 are interferon-induced genes that play a positive role in the progression of tumors. Here, we showed that IFITM3-deficient Tregs blunted tumor growth by strengthening the tumor-killing response and displayed the Th1-like Treg phenotype with higher secretion of IFNγ. Mechanistically, depletion of IFITM3 enhances the translation and phosphorylation of STAT1. Conversely, the decreased IFITM3 protein and mRNA levels present in STAT1-deficient Treg cells indicate that STAT1 conversely regulates the expression of IFITM3 to form a feedback loop. Blocking the inflammatory cytokine IFNγ or directly depleting STAT1-IFITM3 axis phenocopies the restored suppressive function of TI-Tregs in the tumor model. Overall, our study demonstrates that the perturbation of TI-Tregs through IFNγ-IFITM3-STAT1 feedback is essential for anti-tumor immunity and constitutes a targetable vulnerability of cancer immunotherapy.
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus
PROVIDER: GSE248223 | GEO | 2023/11/21
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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