IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-GARP+ Erythroid Regulatory Cells (G-ERCs) define spatially organized immunosuppressive niches that restrain anti-tumor immunity

GARP+ Erythroid Regulatory Cells (G-ERCs) define spatially organized immunosuppressive niches that restrain anti-tumor immunity

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Video Summary

The speaker described a study on GARP, a membrane protein that binds latent TGF-beta and helps release active TGF-beta. Although GARP is known in T-regulatory cells and some cancers, it was unexpectedly found in early erythroid progenitors in the bone marrow. The team showed that tumors induce these erythroid cells and upregulate GARP on them. Using erythroid-specific GARP knockout mice, they found that deleting GARP delayed tumor growth and restored CD8 T-cell activity, with more granzyme B and less exhaustion. Spatial transcriptomics suggested that GARP-positive erythroid regions are enriched for myeloid-derived suppressor cell signatures, and these signatures collapse without GARP. The data suggest GARP may help erythroid progenitors transdifferentiate into MDSCs or recruit them, creating immunosuppressive niches in tumors. The speaker ended by noting ongoing work and possible translational applications, including targeting these cells with CAR-T therapy.

Meta Tag

Date April 18, 2026 9:00 AM - 9:15 AM

Room 156

Session Tumor and Immune Cell Crosstalk

Speaker Maria Velegraki

Track Tumor Immunology: Cellular Responses and Tumor Microenvironment (TIME)

Year 2026

Keywords

GARP

latent TGF-beta

erythroid progenitors

tumor immunosuppression

myeloid-derived suppressor cells

CD8 T-cell activity

April 18, 2026 9:00 AM - 9:15 AM

156

Tumor and Immune Cell Crosstalk

Maria Velegraki

Tumor Immunology: Cellular Responses and Tumor Microenvironment (TIME)

2026