RNA-Binding Proteins Regulate CD8⁺ T Cell Biology: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities

Immune-related diseases contribute substantially to global morbidity and mortality. CD8⁺ T cells play a critical role in adaptive immunity by eliminating virus-infected and malignant cells. The biology of CD8⁺ T cells is governed by tightly regulated gene expression programs, and disruption of these programs can lead to diverse immunopathologies and malignancies. This article evaluates our current understanding of post-transcriptional and translational regulation of gene expression in CD8⁺ T cells by RNA-binding proteins.

Relevant and up-to-date literature was critically analysed to gain mechanistic insights into the roles of RNA-binding proteins in CD8⁺ T cell biology and to identify key knowledge gaps and future directions, with particular emphasis on therapeutic implications.

RNA-binding proteins regulate diverse aspects of CD8⁺ T cell biology, including differentiation, cytokine production, stress adaptation and proliferation. Recent studies further reveal how dysregulated expression and function of RNA-binding proteins contribute to hyperinflammation and haematological malignancies.

RNA-binding proteins are emerging as key post-transcriptional and translational checkpoint regulators of CD8⁺ T cell biology and represent promising therapeutic targets for immune-related diseases; however, substantial mechanistic and disease-specific studies, as well as rigorous translational validation, are required before RNA-binding protein-targeted therapeutic strategies can be safely and effectively advanced into clinical practice.