CD94 缺陷或阻断在小鼠和人源化小鼠模型中释放抗肿瘤免疫

NKG2 family members have emerged as promising targets in tumor immunotherapy. CD94 can dimerize with both inhibitory and activating NKG2 proteins, while the overall effect and value of targeting CD94 on anti-tumor immunity are unclear.

Here, it is shown that the expression of CD94 is upregulated on tumor-infiltrating natural killer (NK) cells and CD8 + T cells, and is related to their exhausted characteristics. Tumor-bearing CD94 knockout (CD94-KO) mice exhibit delayed tumor growth, decreased lung metastases, and prolonged survival. Single cell RNA-seq reveals a remodeled tumor microenvironment in CD94-KO mice, with a reduction in immunosuppressive cells and an increase in anti-tumor immune cells.

Moreover, NK cells and CD8 + T cells become proliferative and strongly tumoricidal in CD94-KO mice, thus contributing to the tumor inhibition effect of CD94 deficiency. Treatment with a humanized anti-CD94 blocking antibody (h15C10) alone, in tumor-bearing humanized mouse, delays tumor progression, and improves the therapeutic efficacy of PD-L1 blockade through combination therapy.

Our study indicates that CD94 may work as a candidate target in checkpoint immunotherapy.