CD8+ T cells play a critical role in the immune system’s defense against cancer. In a study led by Sangeeta Goswami, M.D., Ph.D., researchers demonstrated that manipulating histone lactylation, an epigenetic modification to regulate gene expression, could improve the efficacy of CD8+ T cell responses in cancer therapies. Specifically, they analyzed the potential roles of H3K18la and H3K9la in CD8 T cells.
The study demonstrated that, by targeting metabolic and epigenetic pathways to modulate H3K18la and H3K9la, it is possible to influence CD8+ T cell effector functions, such as enhancing anti-tumor immunity in preclinical models. The study highlights the potential of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, already under clinical evaluation, to enhance CD8+ T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity. Further exploration of these pathways and the different effects of metabolic inhibitors on cancer and immune cells can lead to more efficient therapeutic strategies to improve patient outcomes.