Kamphorst, A. O. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2022

NKG2A and HLA-E define a novel alternative immune checkpoint axis in bladder cancer

PD-1/PD-L1-blockade immunotherapies have limited efficacy in the treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) and metastatic urothelial carcinoma. Here, we show that KLRC1 (NKG2A) expression associates with improved survival and responsiveness to PD-L1 blockade immunotherapy in CD8Ahigh bladder tumors. The loss of antigen presentation is a common mechanism for tumor escape in bladder cancer. NKG2A+ CD8 T cells are able to circumvent HLA-ABC loss through TCR-independent cytotoxicity, which is partly mediated by DNAM-1. In bladder tumors, NKG2A is acquired on a subset of PD-1+ CD8 T cells, alongside stronger tissue-residency memory features, TCR-independent cytotoxicity and evidence of recent proliferation. HLA-E is low but variably expressed on bladder tumors. When expressed, NKG2A+ CD8 T cell anti-tumor responses to HLA-ABC-deficient tumors are inhibited and partly restored upon NKG2A blockade. Overall, our study identifies an alternative path for CD8 T cell exhaustion, that is mediated by NKG2A upregulation and TCR-independent cytotoxicity.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2020

Human Microbial Transplant Restores T Cell Cytotoxicity and Anti-Tumor Response to PD-L1 Blockade in Gnotobiotic Mice

Recent studies demonstrate that gut microbiota regulate tumor response to immune checkpoint blockade. Still, the mechanisms by which microbiota control tumor response to immunotherapy remain unclear. We colonized germ-free mice with cultured human-derived microbiota prior to tumor inoculation. While no human donor microbiota altered tumor growth, two distinct gut microbiota inhibited tumor response to anti-PD-L1. Colonization with non-responder microbiota led to reduced tumor immune cell infiltration and modified antigen presenting cell phenotype. RNA sequencing of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells revealed enrichment for stem cell-like genes in non-responders and reduced effector-like expression conferring cytotoxic potential. Antibiotic depletion and microbiota transplant restored anti-PD-L1 response in non-responders, with expansion of effector cells and cytotoxicity. Concomitant blockade of TNF similarly improved response to anti-PD-L1 and increased cytotoxicity. These results demonstrate inhibitory roles for the microbiota in checkpoint blockade and reveal the potential for microbiota transplant and TNF blockade to overcome microbiota-mediated resistance.

immunology↗