CD39 identifies a specific CD8 + T cell population in lung adenocarcinoma-related metastatic pleural effusion

• Published in: BMC immunology 2023-12, Vol.24 (1), p.53-53, Article 53
• Main Authors: Lv, Lei-Lei, Wang, Hong-Bin, Zhang, Yao-Xin, Zhai, Jia-Wei, Shen, Yu, Qu, Qiu-Xia, Chen, Cheng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma; Adenocarcinoma of Lung; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - pathology; CD39; CD8; CD8 antigen; CD8 lymphocytes; Complications and side effects; Diagnosis; EGFR; Epidermal growth factor receptors; ErbB Receptors - genetics; Health aspects; Humans; Identification and classification; Immunotherapy; Lung cancer; Lung cancer, Non-small cell; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes T; Malignant pleural effusion; Metastases; Metastasis; Monoclonal antibodies; Mutation; Non-small cell lung carcinoma; Phenotypes; Pleural Effusion; Pleural Effusion, Malignant - genetics; Pleural Effusion, Malignant - metabolism; Pleural Effusion, Malignant - pathology; Pleural effusions; Protein-tyrosine kinase; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; Risk factors; T cell receptors; Tuberculosis; Tumor Microenvironment; Tumors; Tyrosine kinase inhibitors
• ISSN: 1471-2172; 1471-2172
• DOI: 10.1186/s12865-023-00590-z

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE), which is a complex microenvironment that contains numerous immune and tumour signals, is common in lung cancer. Gene alterations, such as driver gene mutations, are believed to affect the components of tumour immunity in the microenvironment (TIME) of non-small-cell lung cancer. In this study, we have shown that pleural CD39 + CD8 + T cells are selectively elevated in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) with wild-type epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR ) compared to those with newly diagnosed mutant EGFR (EGFR ). Furthermore, these CD39 + CD8 + T cells are more prevalent in MPE with acquired resistance to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (AR-EGFR-TKIs). Our analysis reveals that pleural CD39 + CD8 + T cells exhibit an exhausted phenotype while still retaining cytolytic function. Additionally, they have a higher T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire clonality compared to CD39-CD8 + T cells, which is a unique characteristic of LUAD-related MPE. Further investigation has shown that TCR-Vβ clonality tends to be more enhanced in pleural CD39 + CD8 + T cells from MPE with AR-EGFR-TKIs. In summary, we have identified a subset of CD8 + T cells expressing CD39 in MPE, which may potentially be tumour-reactive CD8 + T cells. This study provides new insights into the dynamic immune composition of the EGFR tumour microenvironment.