scRNA-seq reveals an immune microenvironment and JUN-mediated NK cell exhaustion in relapsed T-ALL

Abstract

T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a heterogeneous disease characterized by a high relapse rate. By single-cell transcriptome analysis, we characterize the bone marrow immune microenvironment in patients with T-ALL, identifying 13 major cell clusters. These patients exhibited abnormally expanded hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and granulocyte-monocyte progenitors (GMPs), immunosuppressive traits in CD4⁺ T, CD8⁺ T, and natural killer (NK) cells. Subdividing CD4⁺ T cells reveal two subsets transitioning between T helper (Th)1/Th2, Annexin-A1 (ANXA1)^-GATA3^-CD4⁺ T, and ANXA1⁺GATA3⁺CD4⁺ T. Additionally, NK cells demonstrate exhaustion in the tumor microenvironment of patients with relapsed T-ALL, with JUN identified as a critical factor. Additionally, JUN is also highly expressed in T-ALL and is crucial for maintaining its proliferation. The JUN inhibitor exhibited successful lethality toward leukemia cells and ameliorated NK cell exhaustion in relapsed T-ALL cell line, as well as in cell-derived tumor xenograft (CDX), patient-derived tumor xenograft (PDX), and NOTCH1-mutant mouse models. In summary, our findings enhance the understanding of T-ALL relapse mechanisms and support the development of innovative immunotherapies for patients with relapsed T-ALL.

Keywords: JUN; NK cells; T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia; immune exhaustion; single-cell RNA sequencing.