TY - JOUR
T1 - MERTK Acts as a costimulatory receptor on human cd8 t cells
AU - Peeters, Marlies J.W.
AU - Dulkeviciute, Donata
AU - Draghi, Arianna
AU - Ritter, Cathrin
AU - Rahbech, Anne
AU - Skadborg, Signe K.
AU - Seremet, Tina
AU - Simoes, Ana Micaela Carnaz
AU - Martinenaite, Evelina
AU - Halldorsdottir, Holmfridur R.
AU - Andersen, Mads Hald
AU - Olofsson, Gitte Holmen
AU - Svane, Inge Marie
AU - Rasmussen, Lene Juel
AU - Met, Ozcan
AU - Becker, Jeurgen C.
AU - Donia, Marco
AU - Desler, Claus
AU - Straten, Per Thor
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - The TAM family of receptor tyrosine kinases (TYRO3, AXL, and MERTK) is known to be expressed on antigen-presenting cells and function as oncogenic drivers and as inhibitors of inflammatory responses. Both human and mouse CD8 T cells are thought to be negative for TAM receptor expression. In this study, we show that T-cell receptor (TCR)-activated human primary CD8 T cells expressed MERTK and the ligand PROS1 from day 2 postactivation. PROS1-mediated MERTK signaling served as a late costimulatory signal, increasing proliferation and secretion of effector and memory- associated cytokines. Knockdown and inhibition studies confirmed that this costimulatory effect was mediated through MERTK. Transcriptomic and metabolic analyses of PROS1-blocked CD8 T cells demonstrated a role of the PROS1-MERTK axis in differentiation of memory CD8 T cells. Finally, using tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) from melanoma patients, we show that MERTK signaling on T cells improved TIL expansion and TIL-mediated autologous cancer cell killing. We conclude that MERTK serves as a late costimulatory signal for CD8 T cells. Identification of this costimulatory function of MERTK on human CD8 T cells suggests caution in the development of MERTK inhibitors for hematologic or solid cancer treatment.
AB - The TAM family of receptor tyrosine kinases (TYRO3, AXL, and MERTK) is known to be expressed on antigen-presenting cells and function as oncogenic drivers and as inhibitors of inflammatory responses. Both human and mouse CD8 T cells are thought to be negative for TAM receptor expression. In this study, we show that T-cell receptor (TCR)-activated human primary CD8 T cells expressed MERTK and the ligand PROS1 from day 2 postactivation. PROS1-mediated MERTK signaling served as a late costimulatory signal, increasing proliferation and secretion of effector and memory- associated cytokines. Knockdown and inhibition studies confirmed that this costimulatory effect was mediated through MERTK. Transcriptomic and metabolic analyses of PROS1-blocked CD8 T cells demonstrated a role of the PROS1-MERTK axis in differentiation of memory CD8 T cells. Finally, using tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) from melanoma patients, we show that MERTK signaling on T cells improved TIL expansion and TIL-mediated autologous cancer cell killing. We conclude that MERTK serves as a late costimulatory signal for CD8 T cells. Identification of this costimulatory function of MERTK on human CD8 T cells suggests caution in the development of MERTK inhibitors for hematologic or solid cancer treatment.
U2 - 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-18-0841
DO - 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-18-0841
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 31266785
AN - SCOPUS:85071784139
SN - 2326-6066
VL - 7
SP - 1472
EP - 1484
JO - Cancer Immunology Research
JF - Cancer Immunology Research
IS - 9
ER -