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Interleukin 9 (IL-9)-producing helper T (Th9) cells are essential for inducing anti-tumor immunity and inflammation in allergic and autoimmune diseases. Although transcription factors that are essential for Th9 cell differentiation have been identified, other signaling pathways that are required for their generation and functions are yet to be explored. Here, we identify that Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is essential for IL-9 induction in helper T (Th) cells. Moreover, amphiregulin (Areg), an EGFR ligand, is critical for the amplification of Th9 cells induced by TGF-β1 and IL-4. Furthermore, our data show that Areg-EGFR signaling induces HIF1α, which binds and transactivates IL-9 and NOS2 promoters in Th9 cells. Loss of EGFR or HIF1α abrogates Th9 cell differentiation and suppresses their anti-tumor functions. Moreover, in line with its reliance on HIF1α expression, metabolomics profiling of Th9 cells revealed that Succinate, a TCA cycle metabolite, promotes Th9 cell differentiation and Th9 cell-mediated tumor regression.

Original publication

DOI

10.1038/s41467-021-23042-x

Type

Journal article

Journal

Nat commun

Publication Date

01/06/2021

Volume

12

Keywords

Amphiregulin, Animals, Cell Differentiation, ErbB Receptors, Female, HEK293 Cells, Healthy Volunteers, Humans, Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit, Immunotherapy, Adoptive, Interleukin-9, Melanoma, Experimental, Mice, Mice, Knockout, Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II, Primary Cell Culture, RNA-Seq, Signal Transduction, Skin Neoplasms, Succinic Acid, T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer, Transcriptional Activation