# Production of Interferon Gamma by Regulatory T Cells Mediates Response to Immunotherapy

> **NIH NIH F32** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2021 · $68,562

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Recent successes in cancer immunology with the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), such as anti-
programed cell death protein 1 (PD1) have made a significant impact on the overall survival of cancer patients.
Strikingly, anti-PD1 doubled the 5-year survival rate for melanoma patients to 34%. The primary mechanism of
ICI has been attributed to the direct effects on dysfunctional CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), allowing for
reinvigoration of effector function and elimination of the anergic cellular state. Activated CTLs produce the potent
cytokine interferon gamma (IFNγ) to induce anti-tumor immunity via activation of macrophages, Th1
development, promotion of lymphocyte migration and increased antigen presentation. However, the effects of
IFNγ and ICI on regulatory T cells (Tregs) has not been fully explored. Tregs represent a suppressive CD4+ T
cell population that regulates immune homeostasis through prevention of autoimmunity and chronic inflammation
in cell contact, -dependent and -independent, mechanisms. Our lab has shown complete tumor regression when
Tregs are depleted from mice, illustrating that Tregs represent a major barrier to anti-tumor immunity. Tregs have
been defined by the expression of the forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) transcription factor which has been proposed to
be necessary for suppressive function and commitment to the Treg lineage. However, our findings recently
challenged this dogma with evidence of an intermediate state where Tregs lose suppressive function and
become more effector-like, yet maintain Foxp3 expression, a process we termed “Treg fragility”. Interestingly,
these fragile Tregs start to produce IFNγ. We have shown in vitro that IFNγ exposure to Tregs induces Treg
fragility, and mice that lack the IFNγ receptor on Tregs (Ifngr1L/LFoxp3Cre-YFP) are resistant to anti-PD1,
demonstrating the importance of IFNγ-induced Treg fragility in cancer immunotherapy. However, the production
of IFNγ by Tregs has not been extensively studied. It remains to be determined, 1.) if IFNγ production by Tregs
is required for response to immunotherapy and 2.) what the function of IFNγ+ Tregs is in the tumor
microenvironment (TME). We hypothesize that ICI directly induce Treg fragility, which is necessary to disable
immune suppression in the TME and allow for CTLs to be reinvigorated/activated with immunotherapy.
Additionally, the reprogramming of Tregs to produce IFNγ, may potentiate the anti-tumor response of
immunotherapy via Treg-derived IFNγ acting on other cells in the TME. However, it remains to be determined if
Treg fragility occurs in immunotherapies other than anti-PD1. Our lab has made a mouse model, via
CRISPR/Cas9, to selectively delete IFNγ from specific cell types using Cre-Lox recombination (IfngL/L). We will
use this novel model to determine if Treg-derived IFNγ is required for response to immunotherapy by selectively
deleting IFNγ from Tregs (IfngL/LFoxp3Cre-YFP). We are also investigating the effect ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10077201
- **Project number:** 5F32CA247004-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Angela Marie Gocher-Demske
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $68,562
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-01-01 → 2022-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10077201

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10077201, Production of Interferon Gamma by Regulatory T Cells Mediates Response to Immunotherapy (5F32CA247004-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10077201. Licensed CC0.

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