CBX4 suppresses CD8⁺ T cell antitumor immunity by reprogramming glycolytic metabolism

Rationale: CD8⁺ T cells undergo a series of metabolic reprogramming processes during their activation and proliferation, including increased glycolysis, decreased aerobic oxidation of sugars, increased amino acid metabolism and increased protein synthesis. However, it is still unclear what factors regulate these metabolic reprogramming processes in CD8⁺ T cells in the tumor immune microenvironment. Methods: T cell chromobox protein 4 (CBX4) knock-out mice models were used to determine the role of CBX4 in CD8⁺ T cells on the tumor immune microenvironment and tumor progression. Flow cytometry, Cut-Tag qPCR, Chip-seq, immunoprecipitation, metabolite detection, lentivirus infection and adoptive T cells transfer were performed to explore the underlying mechanisms of CBX4 knock-out in promoting CD8+ T cell activation and inhibiting tumor growth. Results: We found that CBX4 expression was induced in tumor-infiltrating CD8⁺ T cells and inhibited CD8⁺ T cell function by regulating glucose metabolism in tumor tissue. Mechanistically, CBX4 increases the expression of the metabolism-associated molecule aldolase B (Aldob) through sumoylation of trans-acting transcription factor 1 (SP1) and Krüppel-like factor 3 (KLF3). In addition, Aldob inhibits glycolysis and ATP synthesis in T cells by reducing the phosphorylation of the serine/threonine protein kinase (Akt) and ultimately suppresses CD8⁺ T cell function. Significantly, knocking out CBX4 may improve the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy by enhancing the function of CD8⁺ T cells in the tumor microenvironment. Conclusion: CBX4 is involved in CD8⁺ T cell metabolic reprogramming and functional persistence in tumor tissues, and serves as an inhibitor in CD8⁺ T cells' glycolysis and effector function.