IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-HuR-SerpinB9 Axis Regulates Tumor T-Cell Fitness and Persistence via Post-Transcriptional Control

HuR-SerpinB9 Axis Regulates Tumor T-Cell Fitness and Persistence via Post-Transcriptional Control

Video Transcription

Video Summary

This talk examined how the RNA-binding protein HuR affects T cell function in cancer. HuR is known to stabilize mRNAs and promote tumor progression in cancer cells, but its role in tumor-infiltrating T cells was unclear. Using T cell-specific HuR knockout mice, the speaker found that HuR loss did not greatly alter T cell development, but it shifted T cells toward a more inflammatory, terminally differentiated, and metabolically impaired state, with increased IFN-γ and TNF-α and reduced mitochondrial respiration. Despite this heightened cytokine production, HuR-deficient T cells failed to persist in vivo and did not improve melanoma control. HuR expression naturally rose with activation but declined during chronic stimulation, aging, and in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Restoring HuR in aged human T cells improved stem-like markers and IL-2 production. Mechanistically, HuR promotes expression of Serpin B9, a survival factor that protects T cells from granzyme B–mediated stress. Serpin B9 overexpression enhanced T cell fitness, persistence, and anti-tumor activity.

Meta Tag

Date April 16, 2026 8:15 AM - 8:30 AM

Room 157

Session T Cells in Cancer II

Speaker Paramita Chakraborty

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

Year 2026

Keywords

HuR

T cell function

tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes

Serpin B9

anti-tumor immunity

April 16, 2026 8:15 AM - 8:30 AM

157

T Cells in Cancer II

Paramita Chakraborty

Tumor Immunology: Cellular Responses and Tumor Microenvironment (TIME)

2026