Evolution and modulation of antigen-specific T cell responses in melanoma patients

J Huuhtanen, L Chen, E Jokinen, H Kasanen… - Nature …, 2022 - nature.com
J Huuhtanen, L Chen, E Jokinen, H Kasanen, T Lönnberg, A Kreutzman, K Peltola…
Nature communications, 2022nature.com
Analyzing antigen-specific T cell responses at scale has been challenging. Here, we
analyze three types of T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire data (antigen-specific TCRs, TCR-
repertoire, and single-cell RNA+ TCRαβ-sequencing data) from 515 patients with primary or
metastatic melanoma and compare it to 783 healthy controls. Although melanoma-
associated antigen (MAA)-specific TCRs are restricted to individuals, they share sequence
similarities that allow us to build classifiers for predicting anti-MAA T cells. The frequency of …
Abstract
Analyzing antigen-specific T cell responses at scale has been challenging. Here, we analyze three types of T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire data (antigen-specific TCRs, TCR-repertoire, and single-cell RNA + TCRαβ-sequencing data) from 515 patients with primary or metastatic melanoma and compare it to 783 healthy controls. Although melanoma-associated antigen (MAA) -specific TCRs are restricted to individuals, they share sequence similarities that allow us to build classifiers for predicting anti-MAA T cells. The frequency of anti-MAA T cells distinguishes melanoma patients from healthy and predicts metastatic recurrence from primary melanoma. Anti-MAA T cells have stem-like properties and frequent interactions with regulatory T cells and tumor cells via Galectin9-TIM3 and PVR-TIGIT -axes, respectively. In the responding patients, the number of expanded anti-MAA clones are higher after the anti-PD1(+anti-CTLA4) therapy and the exhaustion phenotype is rescued. Our systems immunology approach paves the way for understanding antigen-specific responses in human disorders.
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