The immunomodulatory molecule TIGIT is expressed by chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells and contributes to anergy

Haematologica. 2023 Aug 1;108(8):2101-2115. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2022.282177.

Abstract

T-cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT) is an inhibitory checkpoint receptor that negatively regulates Tcell responses. CD226 competes with TIGIT for binding to the CD155 ligand, delivering a positive signal to the T cell. Here we studied the expression of TIGIT and CD226 in a cohort of 115 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and report expression of TIGIT and CD226 by leukemic cells. By devising a TIGIT/CD226 ratio, we showed that CLL cells favoring TIGIT over CD226 are typical of a more indolent disease, while those favoring CD226 are characterized by a shorter time to first treatment and shorter progression-free survival after first treatment. TIGIT expression was inversely correlated to the B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling capacity, as determined by studying BTK phosphorylation, cell proliferation and interleukin- 10 production. In CLL cells treated with ibrutinib, in which surface IgM and BCR signaling capacity are temporarily increased, TIGIT expression was downmodulated, in line with data indicating transient recovery from anergy. Lastly, cells from patients with Richter syndrome were characterized by high levels of CD226, with low to undetectable TIGIT, in keeping with their high proliferative drive. Together, these data suggest that TIGIT contributes to CLL anergy by downregulating BCR signaling, identifying novel and actionable molecular circuits regulating anergy and modulating CLL cell functions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell* / genetics
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell* / metabolism
  • Receptors, Immunologic / genetics

Substances

  • Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte
  • Cytokines
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • TIGIT protein, human

Grants and funding

Funding: This work was supported by the Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro (AIRC IG-23095 to SD; My First AIRC grant MFAG-23107 to TV; AIRC 5x1000 #21198 to GG), by the ITN INTEGRATA program (grant agreement 813284 to SD), by the Italian Ministry of Health (GR-2016-02364298 to TV), by the Ministry of Education, University and Research-MIUR and “Progetto Strategico di Eccellenza Dipartimentale” (D15D18000410001 to SD as part of the Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin).