TIM3-blockade synergizes with IL2 in alleviating intra-tumoral CD8+T cell exhaustion

Xuhao Zhang (), Yu Gao, Huiping Liao, Wenyan Wang, Zaili Yang, Weian Cao, Ge Li, Jing Wen, Gencheng Han and Yang-Xin Fu ()
Additional contact information
Xuhao Zhang: Tsinghua University
Yu Gao: Tsinghua University
Huiping Liao: Changping Laboratory
Wenyan Wang: Tsinghua University
Zaili Yang: Tsinghua University
Weian Cao: Tsinghua University
Ge Li: Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences
Jing Wen: Tsinghua University
Gencheng Han: Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences
Yang-Xin Fu: Tsinghua University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Abstract TIM3, a T-cell inhibitory receptor, is expressed on exhausted T cells in the TME. Progressive loss of IL2-secretion is an early sign of diminished effector function in TILs, which raises the possibility of IL2 loss driving exhaustion of TILs. We show that endogenous IL-2 is required for the antitumor effect of anti-TIM3. Selective delivery of IL-2 to TIM3high TILs via an engineered anti-TIM3-Pro-IL2 fusion enhances anti-TIM3 efficacy, while reducing IL2 toxicity. IL2 activity is inhibited at the acidic pH of the TME, thus an IL2 mutein (IL2V2) with sustained activity at low pH is integrated into the construct. Mechanistically, TIM3-ProIL2V2 not only reactivates TIM3+ TILs but also facilitates the activation and expansion of TIM3- TILs, which in turn provide a sustained source of effector T cells. TIM3-ProIL2V2 is efficient in multiple tumor models, including tumors in humanized mice. TIM3-ProIL2V2 has the potential to overcome anti-PD-1/L1 resistance in cold cancers.

Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-60463-4 Abstract (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-60463-4

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60463-4

Access Statistics for this article

Nature Communications is currently edited by Nathalie Le Bot, Enda Bergin and Fiona Gillespie

More articles in Nature Communications from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().