Nutrition deprivation affects the cytotoxic effect of CD8 T cells in hepatocellular carcinoma

Core Tip

Core Tip: Immunotherapy is one of the most powerful tools for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. CD8⁺ T cells are a major immune component in the tumor microenvironment with cytotoxic effects against tumor cells. However, these CD8⁺ T cells commonly display an exhaustion phenotype with high expression of immune checkpoints such as programmed cell death protein 1, producing less anti-tumor proteins and cytokines, such as perforin and granzyme B. Here, we show that the roles of amino acids such as glutamine in T cell activation and function are dependent on tumor types and nutrients in the tumor microenvironment. Overall, nutrient metabolism reprogramming in the tumor microenvironment plays a pivotal role in both tumor growth and immune response.