The antitumor activity of human Vγ9Vδ2 T cells is impaired by TGF-β through significant phenotype, transcriptomic and metabolic changes

Despite significant advances, the eradication of cancer remains a clinical challenge which justifies the urgent exploration of additional therapeutic strategies such as immunotherapies. Human peripheral V gamma 9V delta 2 T cells represent an attractive candidate subset for designing safe, feasible and effective adoptive T cell transfer-based therapies. However, following their infiltration within tumors, gamma delta T cells are exposed to various regulating constituents and signals from the tumor microenvironment (TME), which severely alter their antitumor functions. Here, we show that TGF-beta, whose elevated production in some solid tumors is linked to a poor prognosis, interferes with the antigenic activation of human V gamma 9V delta 2 T cells in vitro. This regulatory cytokine strongly impairs their cytolytic activity, which is accompanied by the induction of particular phenotypic, transcriptomic and metabolic changes. Collectively, these observations provide information for better understanding and targeting the impact of TME components to regulate the antitumor activity of human T cell effectors.

Automated summary

The eradication of cancer remains a clinical challenge, and additional therapeutic strategies like immunotherapies need to be explored. It has been found that TGF-beta interferes with the antigenic activation of human V gamma 9V delta 2 T cells, impairing their cytolytic activity. These observations provide insights for understanding and targeting the impact of tumor microenvironment components on the antitumor activity of human T cell effectors.