IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-Neutrophil NETosis and cell free DNA suppress T cell responses in glioblastoma

Neutrophil NETosis and cell free DNA suppress T cell responses in glioblastoma

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The talk presented research on glioblastoma, a highly aggressive brain tumor that causes severe systemic immune suppression, especially reduced T-cell function. The team found that serum from glioblastoma-bearing mice suppresses T-cell proliferation, and this effect was not reversed by adrenalectomy, ruling out cortisol. Fractionation and proteomics suggested the suppressive factor was larger than 100 kDa and linked to pathways involving DNA release. This led to the hypothesis that cell-free DNA in blood suppresses T cells. They confirmed elevated cell-free DNA in glioblastoma mouse models and in newly diagnosed and recurrent GBM patients. DNase treatment partially restored T-cell proliferation, supporting a causal role. Methylation sequencing suggested the DNA mainly came from neutrophils, likely via neptosis. Further evidence showed neutrophil infiltration and histone H3.1/citrullinated histone signals in patient plasma and tumor tissue. The team is now studying how T cells sense this DNA and developing a method to remove extracellular nuclear acids from blood.

Meta Tag

Date April 15, 2026 3:45 PM - 4:00 PM

Room 157

Session Orchestration of the Adaptive Immune Response

Speaker Katayoun Ayasoufi

Track Immune Mechanisms of Human Disease (HUM)

Year 2026

Keywords

April 15, 2026 3:45 PM - 4:00 PM

157

Orchestration of the Adaptive Immune Response

Katayoun Ayasoufi

Immune Mechanisms of Human Disease (HUM)

2026

glioblastoma

cell-free DNA

T-cell suppression

neutrophils

neptosis