TOX drives CD4+ TH1 effector function, antitumor immunity and autoimmune pathology - PubMed
3 hours ago
- #immunotherapy
- #TH1 cells
- #TOX
- TOX is a nuclear factor essential for the development of CD4+ thymocytes, natural killer cells, and innate lymphoid cells.
- In CD8+ T cells, TOX is highly expressed during chronic antigen exposure (e.g., cancer, chronic infections) and is necessary for the persistence of exhausted CD8+ T cells.
- TOX plays a critical role in CD4+ type 1 helper T (TH1) cell differentiation, promoting TH1-associated molecular programs, interferon-γ production, and TH1-like phenotypes.
- High TOX expression in CD4+ T cells correlates with increased cytotoxicity, antitumor immunity, and improved immunotherapy responses in cancer patients.
- TOX also contributes to pathogenic autoimmune and inflammatory responses in both mice and humans.
- TOX has opposing roles in CD4+ vs. CD8+ T cells: it drives TH1 cell function in CD4+ cells but promotes exhaustion in CD8+ cells.