Genetically-driven CD39 expression shapes human tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cell functions
In this study, we investigated the role of CD39 on tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T lymphocytes (CD8+ TILs) in colorectal, head and neck and pancreatic cancers. Partially confirming recent observations correlating the CD39 expression with T cell exhaustion, we demonstrated a divergent functional activity in CD39+CD8+ TILs. On the one hand, CD39+CD8+ TILs (as compared with their CD39– counterparts) produced significantly lower IFN- and IL-2 amounts, expressed higher PD-1, and inversely correlated with perforin and granzyme B expression.