CD103+ cDC1 and endogenous CD8+ T cells are necessary for improved CD40L-overexpressing CAR T cell antitumor function

Abstract

CD40L-expressing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells show enhanced anti-tumor immunity, but the cellular mechanisms are still unclear. Here we show, by analyzing mice deficient of conventional dendritic cell type 1 (cDC1) that cDC1s are induced by CD40L+ CAR T cells to prime endogenous CD8 T cells for a stronger anti-tumor immune response.