Single-cell characterization of leukemic and non-leukemic immune repertoires in CD8+ T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia




Huuhtanen Jani, Bhattacharya Dipabarna, Lönnberg Tapio, Kankainen Matti, Kerr Cassandra, Theodoropoulos Jason, Rajala Hanna, Gurnari Carmelo, Kasanen Tiina, Braun Till, Teramo Antonella, Zambello Renato, Herling Marco, Ishida Fumihiro, Kawakami Toru, Salmi Marko, Loughran Thomas, Maciejewski Jaroslaw P., Lähdesmäki Harri, Kelkka Tiina, Mustjoki Satu

PublisherNATURE PORTFOLIO

2022

Nature Communications

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS

NAT COMMUN

1981

13

1

16

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-29173-z(external)

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-29173-z(external)

https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/175159613(external)



T cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia (T-LGLL) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder of mature, clonally expanded T cells, where somatic-activating STAT3 mutations are common. Although T-LGLL has been described as a chronic T cell response to an antigen, the function of the non-leukemic immune system in this response is largely uncharacterized. Here, by utilizing single-cell RNA and T cell receptor profiling (scRNA+TCRαβ-seq), we show that irrespective of STAT3 mutation status, T-LGLL clonotypes are more cytotoxic and exhausted than healthy reactive clonotypes. In addition, T-LGLL clonotypes show more active cell communication than reactive clones with non-leukemic immune cells via costimulatory cell-cell interactions, monocyte-secreted proinflammatory cytokines, and T-LGLL-clone-secreted IFN gamma. Besides the leukemic repertoire, the non-leukemic T cell repertoire in T-LGLL is also more mature, cytotoxic, and clonally restricted than in other cancers and autoimmune disorders. Finally, 72% of the leukemic T-LGLL clonotypes share T cell receptor similarities with their non-leukemic repertoire, linking the leukemic and non-leukemic repertoires together via possible common target antigens. Our results provide a rationale to prioritize therapies that target the entire immune repertoire and not only the T-LGLL clonotype.


Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 13:00