Prevalence of intratumoral regulatory T cells expressing neuropilin-1 is associated with poorer outcomes in patients with cancer

Sci Transl Med. 2021 Dec 8;13(623):eabf8495. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abf8495. Epub 2021 Dec 8.

Abstract

Despite the success of immune checkpoint blockade therapy, few strategies sufficiently overcome immunosuppression within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Targeting regulatory T cells (Tregs) is challenging, because perturbing intratumoral Treg function must be specific enough to avoid systemic inflammatory side effects. Thus, no Treg-targeted agents have proven both safe and efficacious in patients with cancer. Neuropilin-1 (NRP1) is recognized for its role in supporting intratumoral Treg function while being dispensable for peripheral homeostasis. Nonetheless, little is known about the biology of human NRP1+ Tregs and the signals that regulate NRP1 expression. Here, we report that NRP1 is preferentially expressed on intratumoral Tregs across six distinct cancer types compared to healthy donor peripheral blood [peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL)] and site-matched, noncancer tissue. Furthermore, NRP1+ Treg prevalence is associated with reduced progression-free survival in head and neck cancer. Human NRP1+ Tregs have broad activation programs and elevated suppressive function. Unlike mouse Tregs, we demonstrate that NRP1 identifies a transient activation state of human Tregs driven by continuous T cell receptor (TCR) signaling through the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and interleukin-2 exposure. The prevalence of NRP1+ Tregs in patient PBL correlates with the intratumoral abundance of NRP1+ Tregs and may indicate higher disease burden. These findings support further clinical evaluation of NRP1 as a suitable therapeutic target to enhance antitumor immunity by inhibiting Treg function in the TME.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms*
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy
  • Mice
  • Neuropilin-1* / metabolism
  • Prevalence
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
  • Tumor Microenvironment

Substances

  • Neuropilin-1