Functional and phenotypic changes in natural killer cells expressing immune checkpoint receptors PD-1, CTLA-4, LAG-3, and TIGIT in non-small cell lung cancer: the comparative analysis of tumor microenvironment, peripheral venous blood, and tumor-draining veins

Natural killer (NK) cells are a cytotoxic subset of innate lymphoid cells and have key roles in antitumoral immunity. This study evaluates the roles of immune checkpoint receptors on NK cell phenotype and functions both before and after circulation through tumor tissue. Twenty non-small cell lung cancer patients undergoing surgery and 21 healthy controls were included. Lymphocytes were isolated from peripheral venous blood, tumor-draining venous blood, and tumor tissue. Immune checkpoint receptor (ICR) expressions, intracellular cytokines, and cytotoxic capacity of NK cell subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry. Circulatory levels of sPD-1, sCTLA-4, sLAG-3, and sTIGIT were determined by ELISA. PD-1, CTLA-4, and LAG-3 expressions of both cytotoxic (CD56 neg/dim CD16 bright ) and cytokine-producing (CD56 bright/dim CD16 neg ) NK cells increased in tumor tissue compared to both peripheral and tumor-draining veins. NK cells expressing PD-1, CTLA-4, or LAG-3 had significantly lower IFN- γ and TNF- α and increased IL-10 expressions in tumor tissue compared to peripheral venous blood. The cytotoxic activity (perforin and granzyme A expressions) of NK cells from tumor tissue was significantly reduced compared to peripheral blood. Soluble ICRs decreased in peripheral blood and tumor-draining vein of the patients compared to peripheral blood of healthy individuals. However, NK cell phenotype and functions were similar in peripheral blood and tumor-draining vein. NSCLC tumor microenvironment impacts ICR expressions in NK cells, and ICR-expressing NK cells have impaired inflammatory cytokine secretion and cytotoxic activities with a regulatory phenotype. However, tumor-draining venous blood did not reflect the immune status of the tumor tissue.