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PTPN2 regulates the generation of exhausted CD8+ T cell subpopulations and restrains tumor immunity.

Martin W LaFleurThao H NguyenMatthew A CoxeBrian C MillerKathleen B YatesJacob E GillisDebattama R SenEmily F GaudianoRose Al AbosyGordon J FreemanW Nicholas HainingArlene H Sharpe
Published in: Nature immunology (2019)
CD8+ T cell exhaustion is a state of dysfunction acquired in chronic viral infection and cancer, characterized by the formation of Slamf6+ progenitor exhausted and Tim-3+ terminally exhausted subpopulations through unknown mechanisms. Here we establish the phosphatase PTPN2 as a new regulator of the differentiation of the terminally exhausted subpopulation that functions by attenuating type 1 interferon signaling. Deletion of Ptpn2 in CD8+ T cells increased the generation, proliferative capacity and cytotoxicity of Tim-3+ cells without altering Slamf6+ numbers during lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus clone 13 infection. Likewise, Ptpn2 deletion in CD8+ T cells enhanced Tim-3+ anti-tumor responses and improved tumor control. Deletion of Ptpn2 throughout the immune system resulted in MC38 tumor clearance and improved programmed cell death-1 checkpoint blockade responses to B16 tumors. Our results indicate that increasing the number of cytotoxic Tim-3+CD8+ T cells can promote effective anti-tumor immunity and implicate PTPN2 in immune cells as an attractive cancer immunotherapy target.
Keyphrases
  • induced apoptosis
  • dna damage
  • oxidative stress
  • transcription factor
  • dendritic cells
  • protein kinase