Genome-wide CRISPR screens of T cell exhaustion identify chromatin remodeling factors that limit T cell persistence Journal Article


Authors: Belk, J. A.; Yao, W.; Ly, N.; Freitas, K. A.; Chen, Y. T.; Shi, Q.; Valencia, A. M.; Shifrut, E.; Kale, N.; Yost, K. E.; Duffy, C. V.; Daniel, B.; Hwee, M. A.; Miao, Z.; Ashworth, A.; Mackall, C. L.; Marson, A.; Carnevale, J.; Vardhana, S. A.; Satpathy, A. T.
Article Title: Genome-wide CRISPR screens of T cell exhaustion identify chromatin remodeling factors that limit T cell persistence
Abstract: T cell exhaustion limits antitumor immunity, but the molecular determinants of this process remain poorly understood. Using a chronic stimulation assay, we performed genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screens to systematically discover regulators of T cell exhaustion, which identified an enrichment of epigenetic factors. In vivo CRISPR screens in murine and human tumor models demonstrated that perturbation of the INO80 and BAF chromatin remodeling complexes improved T cell persistence in tumors. In vivo Perturb-seq revealed distinct transcriptional roles of each complex and that depletion of canonical BAF complex members, including Arid1a, resulted in the maintenance of an effector program and downregulation of exhaustion-related genes in tumor-infiltrating T cells. Finally, Arid1a depletion limited the acquisition of exhaustion-associated chromatin accessibility and led to improved antitumor immunity. In summary, we provide an atlas of the genetic regulators of T cell exhaustion and demonstrate that modulation of epigenetic state can improve T cell responses in cancer immunotherapy. © 2022 Elsevier Inc.
Keywords: genetics; neoplasm; neoplasms; t lymphocyte; t-lymphocytes; mouse; animal; animals; mice; immunology; epigenetics; chromatin; genomics; chromatin assembly and disassembly; epigenomics; chromatin remodeling; humans; human; t cell exhaustion; crispr; canonical baf complex; in vivo perturb-seq
Journal Title: Cancer Cell
Volume: 40
Issue: 7
ISSN: 1535-6108
Publisher: Cell Press  
Date Published: 2022-07-11
Start Page: 768
End Page: 786.e7
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2022.06.001
PUBMED: 35750052
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC9949532
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 1 August 2022 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Santosha Adipudi Vardhana
    112 Vardhana
  2. Madeline Anne Hwee
    4 Hwee
  3. Yan-Ting Chen
    1 Chen