ADAM17 mediated post-translational regulation of CD122 signaling enhances CD8+ T cell anti-tumor immunity

CD8+ T cell immune responses are regulated by multi-layer networks, while the post-translational regulations remain largely unknown. Transmembrane ectodomain shedding is an important post-translational process regulating receptor expression and signal transduction by proteolytic cleavage of membrane proteins. Here, by targeting sheddase A Disintegrin and Metalloprotease (ADAM)17, we defined a post-translational regulatory mechanism mediated by ectodomain shedding in CD8+ T cells. Transcriptomic and proteomic analysis revealed the involvement of post-transcriptional/translational regulations in CD8+ T cells. T cell-specific deletion of ADAM17 led to a dramatic increase of effector CD8+ T cell differentiation and enhanced cytolytic effects to eliminate pathogens and tumors. Mechanistically, ADAM17 regulated CD8+ T cells by cleavage of membrane CD122. ADAM17 deficient CD8+ T cells had elevated CD122 expression and response to cytokines IL-2 and IL-15. Intriguingly, inhibition of ADAM17 in CD8+ T cells improved the efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells in solid tumor. Our findings reveal a critical post-translational regulation in CD8+ T cells, providing a potential therapeutic strategy of targeting ADAM17 for effective anti-tumor immunity. We then performed gene expression profiling analysis using data obtained from RNA-seq of 10 samples from two groups. Overall design: WT and KO CD8+ T cells were sorted from the spleens of recipient mice 7 days after LM-OVA infection in the co-transfer model.