TNF-α deficiency underlies NK cell dysfunction in colorectal cancer - PubMed
7 hours ago
- #TNF-α
- #NK cells
- #colorectal cancer
- NK cells are crucial for innate antitumor immunity but are dysfunctional in colorectal cancer (CRC).
- CRC patients show early changes in peripheral blood NK cells, including reduced CD56�� cells and impaired function.
- Plasma from CRC patients induces similar NK cell dysfunctions in healthy donors, suppressing mTORC1 signaling.
- Transcriptomic analysis reveals downregulation of TNF-α signaling in NK cells exposed to CRC plasma.
- Systemic and intracellular TNF-α levels are reduced in CRC patients, contributing to NK cell suppression.
- Inhibition of TNF-α in healthy NK cells mimics CRC plasma-induced defects, while exogenous TNF-α partially restores function.
- TNF-α signaling deficiency is identified as a systemic mechanism of NK cell suppression in CRC.
- Targeting TNF-α signaling may offer a new strategy to enhance NK cell-mediated antitumor immunity in CRC.