Sensing of ATP via the Purinergic Receptor P2RX7 Promotes CD8+ Trm Cell Generation by Enhancing Their Sensitivity to the Cytokine TGF-β

Tissue-resident memory (Trm) CD8+ T cells mediate protective immunity in barrier tissues, but the cues promoting Trm cell generation are poorly understood. Sensing of extracellular adenosine triphosphate (eATP) by the purinergic receptor P2RX7 is needed for recirculating CD8+ T cell memory, but its role for Trm cells is unclear. Here we showed that P2RX7 supported Trm cell generation by enhancing CD8+ T cell sensing of TGF-β, which was necessary for tissue residency. P2RX7-deficient Trm cells progressively decayed in non-lymphoid tissues and expressed dysregulated Trm-specific markers. P2RX7 was required for efficient re-expression of the receptor TGF-βRII through calcineurin signaling. Forced Tgfbr2 expression rescued P2RX7-deficient Trm cell generation, and TGF-β sensitivity was dictated by P2RX7 agonists and antagonists. Forced Tgfbr2 also rescued P2RX7-deficient Trm cell mitochondrial function. Sustained P2RX7 signaling was required for long-term Trm cell maintenance, indicating that P2RX7 signaling drives induction and CD8+ T cell durability in barrier sites. [Display omitted] •Generation of long-lived CD103+CD69+ Trm cells requires P2RX7 expression•P2RX7 controls Trm cell generation through induction of the TGF-β signaling pathway•Trm cell long-term maintenance requires continuous expression of P2RX7 Borges da Silva et al. report that the extracellular ATP receptor P2RX7 promotes generation of virus-specific tissue-resident memory (Trm) CD8+ T cells through induction of the TGF-β signaling pathway. Furthermore, long-term maintenance of Trm cells relies on continuous P2RX7 signaling.