Differential regulation of calcium-NFAT signaling pathway by Akt isoforms: unraveling effector dynamics and exhaustion of cytotoxic T lymphocytes in tumor microenvironment.

Background: Impairment of Akt signaling has been observed in antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) during chronic viral infections or tumor progression. Despite numerous studies emphasizing Akt's role in driving CTL effector functions, there is limited exploration of using Akt molecules in T-cell engineering to enhance their antiviral or antitumor capabilities for therapeutic purposes. Some studies even conclude that inhibiting Akt activation during the in vitro expansion process can prevent T-cell exhaustion and boost the antitumor effector functions of chimeric antigen receptor-T cells in vivo.

Helios Expression in Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes Correlates with Overall Survival of Advanced Gastric Cancer Patients.

Immunotherapy is a highly promising approach for the treatment of gastric cancer, the third-leading cause of overall cancer death worldwide. In particular, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells are believed to mediate host immune responses, although this activity may vary depending on the activation status and/ or their microenvironments. Here, we examined the expression of a specific zinc finger transcription factor, Helios (IKZF2), in gastric tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes by immunohistochemistry and the correlation with survival.