YTHDF2 upregulation and subcellular localization dictate CD8 T cell polyfunctionality in anti-tumor immunity

Abstract

RNA methylation is an important regulatory process to determine immune cell function but how it affects the anti-tumor activity of CD8 T cells is not fully understood. Here we show that the N ⁶-methyladenosine (m ⁶A) RNA reader YTHDF2 is highly expressed in early effector or effector-like CD8 T cells. We find that YTHDF2 facilitates nascent RNA synthesis, and m ⁶A recognition is fundamental for this distinctively nuclear function of the protein, which also reinforces its autoregulation at the RNA level. Loss of YTHDF2 in T cells exacerbates tumor progression and confers unresponsiveness to PD-1 blockade in mice and in humans. In addition to initiating RNA decay that is necessary for mitochondrial fitness, YTHDF2 orchestrates chromatin changes that promote T cell polyfunctionality. YTHDF2 interacts with IKZF1/3, which is important for sustained transcription of their target genes. Accordingly, immunotherapy-induced efficacy could be largely restored in YTHDF2-deficient T cells through combinational use of IKZF1/3 inhibitor lenalidomide in a mouse model. Thus, YTHDF2 coordinates epi-transcriptional and transcriptional networks to potentiate T cell immunity, which could inform therapeutic intervention.

Abstract

RNA methylation has recently identified as an important regulatory mechanism governing functional cellular states, but its effect on the antitumour activity of CD8  ⁺ T cells is not fully explored. Here authors assign an essential nuclear, m ⁶A-recognition-dependent function to YTHDF2, which, in conjunction with its regulatory role in IKZF1/3-mediated gene transcription, governs anti-tumor activity in CD8  ⁺ T cells.