Interleukin-7 protects CD8+ T cells from adenosine-mediated immunosuppression

A Koyas, S Tucer, M Kayhan, AC Savas, I Akdemir… - Science …, 2021 - science.org
A Koyas, S Tucer, M Kayhan, AC Savas, I Akdemir, C Cekic
Science Signaling, 2021science.org
The nucleoside adenosine accumulates extracellularly in solid tumors and inhibits CD8+ T
cells by activating adenosine receptors. The cytokine interleukin-7 (IL-7), which is produced
by various tissues and tumors, promotes the survival and maintenance of T cells. Adenosine
and IL-7 signaling are being clinically targeted separately or in combination with other
therapies for solid tumor indications. Here, we found that IL-7 signaling promoted the
accumulation of tumor-associated CD8+ T cells, in part, by preventing adenosine-mediated …
The nucleoside adenosine accumulates extracellularly in solid tumors and inhibits CD8+ T cells by activating adenosine receptors. The cytokine interleukin-7 (IL-7), which is produced by various tissues and tumors, promotes the survival and maintenance of T cells. Adenosine and IL-7 signaling are being clinically targeted separately or in combination with other therapies for solid tumor indications. Here, we found that IL-7 signaling promoted the accumulation of tumor-associated CD8+ T cells, in part, by preventing adenosine-mediated immunosuppression. Inhibition of the transcription factor FoxO1 downstream of IL-7 receptor signaling was important for protecting CD8+ T cells from suppression by adenosine. These findings have implications for the development of new approaches for cancer immunotherapies that target the adenosine pathway.
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