IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-Skin mites enhance virtual memory T cell responses against immune checkpoint inhibitor-resistant tumors

Skin mites enhance virtual memory T cell responses against immune checkpoint inhibitor-resistant tumors

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The study found that “wildling” mice, which carry natural skin mites and a more adult-like immune system, respond far better to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy than standard lab mice in resistant melanoma and lung tumor models. The effect depended on CD8 T cells and on the chemokines CXCL9/CXCL10, which promoted recruitment of CXCR3-positive virtual memory CD8 T cells into tumors. Depleting these cells or blocking their trafficking eliminated the benefit. Gut microbiota alone did not explain the response; instead, removing parasites with ivermectin erased the anti-tumor effect, and transferring only skin mites was sufficient to restore it. The authors propose that skin mites expand virtual memory T cells, possibly via IL-15, enhancing anti-tumor immunity. Human data also showed virtual memory-like T cells were enriched in checkpoint inhibitor responders.

Meta Tag

Date April 16, 2026 5:00 PM - 5:15 PM

Room 205

Session Immune Checkpoints and Beyond I

Speaker Jihoon Oh

Track Tumor Immunology: Checkpoints, Prevention, And Treatment (TIPT)

Year 2026

Keywords

wildling mice

immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy

virtual memory CD8 T cells

skin mites

melanoma and lung tumors

April 16, 2026 5:00 PM - 5:15 PM

205

Immune Checkpoints and Beyond I

Jihoon Oh

Tumor Immunology: Checkpoints, Prevention, And Treatment (TIPT)

2026