Polyfunctional pathogen-specific CD4⁺ T cells reside in the lungs and tumors of NSCLC patients

Abstract

Local T cell responses are required for optimal protection of the lungs against airborne pathogens. This localized protection is mediated by various immune cells, including resident memory T cells (TRM). While human lung CD8+ TRM line the epithelium and are enriched for recognition of respiratory viruses, we found CD4+ TRM to exhibit more heterogeneous localization patterns, surrounding airways, forming clusters in the lung parenchyma, and lining the epithelium. This heterogeneity was also reflected functionally, as lung CD4+ TRM were enriched for recognition of diverse classes of respiratory pathogens. Upon stimulation, lung CD4+ TRM expressed different polyfunctional cytokine profiles depending on the pathogen recognized. CD4+ TRM responding to respiratory viruses and bacteria were biased for production of IFN-γ and IL-17, respectively. Strikingly, pathogen-specific CD4+ TRM also represent a significant fraction in NSCLC tumors that remained polyfunctional despite high PD-1 expression. These findings are not only important for vaccine design, but also provide a rationale for reinvigorating anti-tumor immunity through triggering of polyfunctional pathogen-specific CD4+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes.