articleNature CommunicationsJan 24, 2024GOLD OA

Rapid functional impairment of natural killer cells following tumor entry limits anti-tumor immunity

IDIsaac DeanCYColin Y.C. LeeZKZewen Kelvin TuongZLZhi LiCAChristopher A. Tibbitt

University of Birmingham · MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology · +10 more institutions

PubMed
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Abstract

Immune cell dysfunction within the tumor microenvironment (TME) undermines the control of cancer progression. Established tumors contain phenotypically distinct, tumor-specific natural killer (NK) cells; however, the temporal dynamics, mechanistic underpinning and functional significance of the NK cell compartment remains incompletely understood. Here, we use photo-labeling, combined with longitudinal transcriptomic and cellular analyses, to interrogate the fate of intratumoral NK cells. We reveal that NK cells rapidly lose effector functions and adopt a distinct phenotypic state with features associated with tissue residency. NK cell depletion from established tumors did not alter tumor growth, indicating…

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157
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33.89
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100%
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Authors

22

Topics & keywords

Topics
Keywords
  • Immunity
  • Tumor cells
  • Immunology
  • Innate immune system
  • Biology
  • Immune system
  • Cancer research
  • Medicine
UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • Good health and well-being
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