The transcriptional repressor ID2 supports natural killer cell maturation by controlling TCF1 amplitude

Gaining a mechanistic understanding of the expansion and maturation program of natural killer (NK) cells will provide opportunities for harnessing their inflammation-inducing and oncolytic capacity for therapeutic purposes. Here, we demonstrated that ID2, a transcriptional regulatory protein constitutively expressed in NK cells, supports NK cell effector maturation by controlling the amplitude and temporal dynamics of the transcription factor TCF1. TCF1 promotes immature NK cell expansion and restrains differentiation. The increased TCF1 expression in ID2-deficient NK cells arrests their maturation and alters cell surface receptor expression. Moreover, TCF1 limits NK cell functions, such as cytokine-induced IFN-gamma production and the ability to clear metastatic melanoma in ID2-deficient NK cells. Our data demonstrate that ID2 sets a threshold for TCF1 during NK cell development, thus controlling the balance of immature and terminally differentiated cells that support future NK cell responses.

Automated summary

ID2, a transcriptional regulatory protein expressed in NK cells, supports NK cell effector maturation by controlling the expression of TCF1. TCF1 promotes immature NK cell expansion and restrains differentiation, but its excessive expression in ID2-deficient NK cells blocks maturation and alters receptor expression. These findings highlight the importance of ID2 in regulating TCF1 levels during NK cell development to balance immature and terminally differentiated cells.