The transcription regulator ID3 maintains tumor-specific memory CD8 + T cells in draining lymph nodes during tumorigenesis.

During tumorigenesis, the recently identified tumor-specific memory T cells in draining lymph nodes (TdLN-T _TSM cells) play a pivotal role in tumor repression that gives rise to progenitor exhausted T (T _PEX ) cells and further replenishes tumor-specific CD8 ⁺ T cells residing in the tumor microenvironment (TME). However, how T _TSM cells are maintained in TdLN is largely unknown. Here, we show that the transcription regulator ID3 (inhibitor of DNA binding 3) is highly expressed by T _TSM cells compared with other CD8 ⁺ T cell subsets. The deficiency of ID3 significantly interrupts the maintenance of T _TSM and T _PEX cells, resulting in decreased tumor-infiltrating CD8 ⁺ T cells and impaired tumor control. Consistent with this, overexpression of ID3 in CD8 ⁺ T cells increases the T _TSM cell population and enhances the anti-tumor immune response.
Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests.
(Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)