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Interferon gamma (IFNγ) supports effector responses of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and is a surrogate marker for detection of antigen-specific T cells. Here, we show that tumor-specific CTL clones have impaired IFNγ expression and production upon activation. Assessment of the relationship between IFNγ production and the 5'methylcytosine-guanine (CpG) dinucleotide methylation of the IFNγ promoter using bisulfite treatment has shown that IFNγ- CTL clones accumulates CpG hypermethylation within the promoter at key transcription factor binding sites (-186 and -54), known to be vital for transcription. We confirmed these findings using ex vivo isolated and short-term expanded bulk tumor-specific CTL lines from four cancer patients and demonstrated that IFNγ methylation inversely correlates with transcription, protein level, and cytotoxicity. Altogether, we propose that a sizeable portion of human tumor-specific CTLs are deficient in IFNγ response, contributed by CpG hypermethylation of the IFNγ promoter. Our findings have important implications for immunotherapy strategies and for methods to detect human antigen-specific T cells.

Original publication

DOI

10.3389/fimmu.2020.00310

Type

Journal article

Journal

Front Immunol

Publication Date

2020

Volume

11

Keywords

CD8+ T cells, interferon gamma, mRNA, methylation, promoter, response, Antigens, Neoplasm, CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes, CpG Islands, DNA Methylation, Humans, Interferon-gamma, Promoter Regions, Genetic