Innovative Herpes Virus Engineering Enhances T Cell-Based Cancer Immunotherapy

Recent advancements in cancer treatment research suggest that reprogramming familiar viruses like herpes may provide a new avenue for boosting the body's immune response against tumors. Scientists from the University of Michigan have identified that herpes virus proteins can be engineered to activate T cells—key players in the immune system responsible for targeting infected or malignant cells.

T cells are crucial in defending against pathogens and cancer cells, but their effectiveness can be hampered within the tumor microenvironment. One promising strategy, known as CAR-T therapy, involves modifying T cells to better recognize and attack cancer. Nonetheless, this approach faces limitations due to suppressive conditions inside tumors that impair T cell function.

In their recent study, published in Science Immunology, researchers focused on the herpes virus saimiri, which infects squirrel monkeys' T cells. They discovered that proteins from this virus could stimulate pathways inside T cells that promote their survival and activity. Led by Dr. Adam Courtney's team, the researchers engineered a viral protein variant capable of activating transcription factors like STAT5, which are vital for T cell proliferation and persistence.

This engineered viral component binds to LCK, a kinase involved in resting T cells, to initiate STAT5 activation, thereby enhancing T cell survival in cancerous environments. Experiments in mouse models of melanoma and lymphoma demonstrated that this approach could sustain T cell function within tumors, potentially overcoming the suppressive tumor microenvironment.

These findings open new possibilities for immunotherapy enhancement by utilizing viral genes known for their ability to modulate human immune cells. The research team believes that such strategies could lead to more effective cancer treatments that harness the full potential of T cells, addressing current limitations faced by existing therapies.

First author Yating Zheng emphasized the significance of this approach, highlighting its potential to improve T cell-based therapies and provide a new tool in the fight against cancer.