FOXO1 是 CAR-T 记忆编程的主调控因子

Poor CAR T persistence limits CAR T cell therapies for B cell malignancies and solid tumors 1,2 . The expression of memory-associated genes such as TCF7 (protein name TCF1) is linked to response and long-term persistence in patients 3-7 , thereby implicating memory programs in therapeutic efficacy.

Here, we demonstrate that the pioneer transcription factor, FOXO1, is responsible for promoting memory programs and restraining exhaustion in human CAR T cells. Pharmacologic inhibition or gene editing of endogenous FOXO1 in human CAR T cells diminished the expression of memory-associated genes, promoted an exhaustion-like phenotype, and impaired antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo .

FOXO1 overexpression induced a gene expression program consistent with T cell memory and increased chromatin accessibility at FOXO1 binding motifs. FOXO1-overexpressing cells retained function, memory potential, and metabolic fitness during settings of chronic stimulation and exhibited enhanced persistence and antitumor activity in vivo . In contrast, TCF1 overexpression failed to enforce canonical memory programs or enhance CAR T cell potency.

Importantly, endogenous FOXO1 activity correlated with CAR T and TIL responses in patients, underscoring its clinical relevance in cancer immunotherapy.

Our results demonstrate that memory reprogramming through FOXO1 can enhance the persistence and potency of human CAR T cells and highlights the utility of pioneer factors, which bind condensed chromatin and induce local epigenetic remodeling, for optimizing therapeutic T cell states.