Targeting BATF2-RGS2 axis reduces T-cell exhaustion and restores anti-tumor immunity
Abstract Objective This study aims to investigate the role of RGS2 in immune regulation in lung cancer (LC) and explore the regulatory relationship between RGS2 and BATF2 in modulating T cell exhaustion and tumor immune evasion. Methods Single-cell transcriptome-based analysis was performed to ident...
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Molecular Cancer |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12943-025-02351-5 |
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| author | Xuyu Gu Chanchan Gao Xiangyu Su Yaoyao Zhu Qiyu Fang Jia Yu Ziming Wang Deping Zhao Wentian Zhang |
| author_facet | Xuyu Gu Chanchan Gao Xiangyu Su Yaoyao Zhu Qiyu Fang Jia Yu Ziming Wang Deping Zhao Wentian Zhang |
| author_sort | Xuyu Gu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective This study aims to investigate the role of RGS2 in immune regulation in lung cancer (LC) and explore the regulatory relationship between RGS2 and BATF2 in modulating T cell exhaustion and tumor immune evasion. Methods Single-cell transcriptome-based analysis was performed to identify CD8+ T-cell profiles and regulatory factors in six LC patients receiving neoadjuvant PD-1 blockade therapy. Mouse 3LL cells or murine tumor organoid models were transplanted into wild-type, RGS2 knock-out (RGS2−/−), or BATF2 knock-out (BATF2−/−) mice to analyze the effects of RGS2 and BATF2 on tumor growth, metastasis, and immune cell infiltration. CD8+ from these mice were isolated and co-cultured with cancer cells to analyze T cell cytotoxicity in vitro. The transcriptional regulation of RGS2 by BATF2 was analyzed using luciferase reporter assays. Results RGS2 was highly expressed in CD8+ T-exhausted (Tex) cells and was associated with pro-inflammatory pathways. High RGS2 expression predicted poor clinical outcomes and limited response to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade therapy. In RGS2−/− mice, tumor metastasis and angiogenesis were suppressed, CD8+ effector T cells were enhanced, and T cell exhaustion markers were reduced. BATF2 was identified as a key transcriptional regulator of RGS2, promoting T cell exhaustion through inhibition of CXCL13 secretion. Knockdown of BATF2 or RGS2 impaired lung cancer cell proliferation and enhanced sensitivity to NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro. In BATF2−/− mice, the populations of immune active CD8+ T cells were increased, while exhausted T cells were reduced, leading to improved anti-tumor immune responses. Conclusions RGS2, regulated by BATF2, plays a critical role in driving T cell exhaustion and tumor immune evasion in LC. Targeting the BATF2-RGS2 axis may enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy by reversing T cell exhaustion and improving anti-tumor immunity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fe27a0bfb7024f79b37e38fa17b67486 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1476-4598 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecular Cancer |
| spelling | doaj-art-fe27a0bfb7024f79b37e38fa17b674862025-08-20T03:27:09ZengBMCMolecular Cancer1476-45982025-05-0124112310.1186/s12943-025-02351-5Targeting BATF2-RGS2 axis reduces T-cell exhaustion and restores anti-tumor immunityXuyu Gu0Chanchan Gao1Xiangyu Su2Yaoyao Zhu3Qiyu Fang4Jia Yu5Ziming Wang6Deping Zhao7Wentian Zhang8Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji UniversityDepartment of Oncology, School of Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast UniversityDepartment of Oncology, School of Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast UniversityDepartment of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji UniversityDepartment of Oncology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji UniversityDepartment of Oncology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji UniversityDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, School of Medicine, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji UniversityDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, School of Medicine, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji UniversityDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, School of Medicine, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji UniversityAbstract Objective This study aims to investigate the role of RGS2 in immune regulation in lung cancer (LC) and explore the regulatory relationship between RGS2 and BATF2 in modulating T cell exhaustion and tumor immune evasion. Methods Single-cell transcriptome-based analysis was performed to identify CD8+ T-cell profiles and regulatory factors in six LC patients receiving neoadjuvant PD-1 blockade therapy. Mouse 3LL cells or murine tumor organoid models were transplanted into wild-type, RGS2 knock-out (RGS2−/−), or BATF2 knock-out (BATF2−/−) mice to analyze the effects of RGS2 and BATF2 on tumor growth, metastasis, and immune cell infiltration. CD8+ from these mice were isolated and co-cultured with cancer cells to analyze T cell cytotoxicity in vitro. The transcriptional regulation of RGS2 by BATF2 was analyzed using luciferase reporter assays. Results RGS2 was highly expressed in CD8+ T-exhausted (Tex) cells and was associated with pro-inflammatory pathways. High RGS2 expression predicted poor clinical outcomes and limited response to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade therapy. In RGS2−/− mice, tumor metastasis and angiogenesis were suppressed, CD8+ effector T cells were enhanced, and T cell exhaustion markers were reduced. BATF2 was identified as a key transcriptional regulator of RGS2, promoting T cell exhaustion through inhibition of CXCL13 secretion. Knockdown of BATF2 or RGS2 impaired lung cancer cell proliferation and enhanced sensitivity to NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro. In BATF2−/− mice, the populations of immune active CD8+ T cells were increased, while exhausted T cells were reduced, leading to improved anti-tumor immune responses. Conclusions RGS2, regulated by BATF2, plays a critical role in driving T cell exhaustion and tumor immune evasion in LC. Targeting the BATF2-RGS2 axis may enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy by reversing T cell exhaustion and improving anti-tumor immunity.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12943-025-02351-5RGS2BATFT-cell exhaustionCXCL13ImmunosuppressionLung cancer |
| spellingShingle | Xuyu Gu Chanchan Gao Xiangyu Su Yaoyao Zhu Qiyu Fang Jia Yu Ziming Wang Deping Zhao Wentian Zhang Targeting BATF2-RGS2 axis reduces T-cell exhaustion and restores anti-tumor immunity Molecular Cancer RGS2 BATF T-cell exhaustion CXCL13 Immunosuppression Lung cancer |
| title | Targeting BATF2-RGS2 axis reduces T-cell exhaustion and restores anti-tumor immunity |
| title_full | Targeting BATF2-RGS2 axis reduces T-cell exhaustion and restores anti-tumor immunity |
| title_fullStr | Targeting BATF2-RGS2 axis reduces T-cell exhaustion and restores anti-tumor immunity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Targeting BATF2-RGS2 axis reduces T-cell exhaustion and restores anti-tumor immunity |
| title_short | Targeting BATF2-RGS2 axis reduces T-cell exhaustion and restores anti-tumor immunity |
| title_sort | targeting batf2 rgs2 axis reduces t cell exhaustion and restores anti tumor immunity |
| topic | RGS2 BATF T-cell exhaustion CXCL13 Immunosuppression Lung cancer |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12943-025-02351-5 |
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