806-Converting Tregs into Type 1 Tumor Effectors

Paper Talk · Apr 17, 2026 · 24m

This research reveals that agonistic anti-CD40 antibody therapy effectively eliminates immunosuppressive regulatory T (Treg) cells by forcing them to undergo a functional transformation. Within the tumor microenvironment, this treatment triggers a conversion process where Treg cells lose their Foxp3 expression and evolve into activated "ExTreg" cells. These reprogrammed cells adopt a Th1-like phenotype, characterized by the production of IFN-γ and increased antigen reactivity. This plasticity is driven by CD40-activated dendritic cells and the IL-12/IFN-γ cytokine axis, which also causes the…