Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 26, 2025
09:01
Analysis of Human T Cell Activity in an Allogeneic Co-Culture Setting of Pre-Treated Tumor Cells
Published on: March 7, 2025
451
B-cell-specific checkpoint molecules that regulate anti-tumour immunity.
Lloyd Bod1,2,3,4, Yoon-Chul Kye1,2,3, Jingwen Shi1,2,5
1Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Nature
|June 21, 2023
Summary
Researchers discovered a specific B cell subset that expands during melanoma growth. Targeting this TIM-1 expressing B cell subset significantly inhibited tumor growth and boosted anti-tumor immunity.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The role of B cells in anti-tumor immunity is not fully understood.
- Current immunotherapies primarily target T cells and natural killer cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of B cells in anti-tumor immunity during melanoma progression.
- To identify specific B cell subsets involved in tumor growth and immune response.
Main Methods:
- High-throughput flow cytometry
- Bulk and single-cell RNA-sequencing
- B-cell-receptor-sequencing
- Analysis of B cells during B16F10 melanoma growth in mice
Main Results:
- Identified an expanding subset of B cells in the draining lymph node expressing T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 1 (TIM-1).
- This subset also expressed co-inhibitory molecules like PD-1, TIM-3, TIGIT, and LAG-3.
- Selective deletion of TIM-1 (Havcr1) in B cells inhibited tumor growth and enhanced effector T cell responses.
- Loss of TIM-1 boosted type 1 interferon response, increasing B cell activation, antigen presentation, and co-stimulation, leading to greater tumor-specific effector T cell expansion.
Conclusions:
- TIM-1 expressing B cells play a crucial role in regulating anti-tumor immunity.
- Targeting TIM-1 on B cells can enhance adaptive immunity and inhibit tumor growth.
- This highlights a novel strategy for cancer immunotherapy by engaging B cells.
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