Abstract
T cells become functionally exhausted in tumors, limiting T cell-based immunotherapies. Although several transcription factors regulating the exhausted T (Tex) cell differentiation are known, comparatively little is known about the regulators of Tex cell survival. Here, we reported that the regulator of G protein signaling 16 (Rgs-16) suppressed Tex cell survival in tumors. By performing lineage tracing using reporter mice in which mCherry marked Rgs16-expressing cells, we identified that Rgs16+CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were terminally differentiated, expressed low levels of T cell factor 1 (Tcf1), and underwent apoptosis as early as 6 days after the onset of Rgs16 expression. Rgs16 deficiency inhibited CD8+ T cell apoptosis and promoted antitumor effector functions of CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, Rgs16 deficiency synergized with programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) blockade to enhance antitumor CD8+ T cell responses. Proteomics revealed that Rgs16 interacted with the scaffold protein IQGAP1, suppressed the recruitment of Ras and B-Raf, and inhibited Erk1 activation. Rgs16 deficiency enhanced antitumor CD8+ TIL survival in an Erk1-dependent manner. Loss of function of Erk1 decreased antitumor functions of Rgs16-deficient CD8+ T cells. RGS16 mRNA expression levels in CD8+ TILs of patients with melanoma negatively correlated with genes associated with T cell stemness, such as SELL, TCF7, and IL7R, and predicted low responses to PD-1 blockade. This study uncovers Rgs16 as an inhibitor of Tex cell survival in tumors and has implications for improving T cell-based immunotherapies.