Single-cell RNA sequencing of tumor-infiltrating NK cells reveals that inhibition of transcription factor HIF-1α unleashes NK cell activity
Enhancing immune cell functions in tumors remains a major challenge in cancer immunotherapy. Hypoxia is a common feature of solid tumors, and cells adapt by upregulating the transcription factor HIF-1α. Here, we defined the transcriptional landscape of mouse tumor-infiltrating natural killer (NK) ce...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article (Journal) |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
22 May 2020
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| In: |
Immunity
Year: 2020, Volume: 52, Issue: 6, Pages: 1075-1087.e8 |
| ISSN: | 1097-4180 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.immuni.2020.05.001 |
| Online Access: | Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.immuni.2020.05.001 Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1074761320301825 |
| Author Notes: | authors: Jing Ni, Xi Wang, Ana Stojanovic, Qin Zhang, Marian Wincher, Lea Bühler, Annette Arnold, Margareta P. Correia, Manuel Winkler, Philipp-Sebastian Koch, Veronika Sexl, Thomas Höfer and Adelheid Cerwenka |
| Summary: | Enhancing immune cell functions in tumors remains a major challenge in cancer immunotherapy. Hypoxia is a common feature of solid tumors, and cells adapt by upregulating the transcription factor HIF-1α. Here, we defined the transcriptional landscape of mouse tumor-infiltrating natural killer (NK) cells by using single-cell RNA sequencing. Conditional deletion of Hif1a in NK cells resulted in reduced tumor growth, elevated expression of activation markers, effector molecules, and an enriched NF-κB pathway in tumor-infiltrating NK cells. Interleukin-18 (IL-18) from myeloid cells was required for NF-κB activation and the enhanced anti-tumor activity of Hif1a−/− NK cells. Extended culture with an HIF-1α inhibitor increased human NK cell responses. Low HIF1A expression was associated with high expression of IFNG in human tumor-infiltrating NK cells, and an enriched NK-IL18-IFNG signature in solid tumors correlated with increased overall patient survival. Thus, inhibition of HIF-1α unleashes NK cell anti-tumor activity and could be exploited for cancer therapy. |
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| Item Description: | Gesehen am 27.10.2020 |
| Physical Description: | Online Resource |
| ISSN: | 1097-4180 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.immuni.2020.05.001 |