Single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals the potential heterogeneous mechanism of CD8+ T cell immune dysfunction in thyroid cancer

Abstract Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) exhibit significant differences in clinical behavior and immune microenvironments, particularly concerning the mechanisms underlying CD8+ T cell dysfunction. However, these specific mechanisms have yet to be thorThe original blots and abbreviations are presented in Supplemeoughly investigated. The present study utilized single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data to conduct a comprehensive analysis of CD8+ T cells in the thyroid tissues of patients diagnosed with ATC and PTC. The results of the study indicate that CD8+ T cells in ATC display disruptions in energy supply and marked signs of exhaustion. Conversely, CD8+ T cells in PTC are more prone to maintaining a stable expression of immunosuppression-related membrane proteins through posttranslational modifications. This study highlights the distinct mechanisms of CD8+ T cell exhaustion in two types of thyroid cancer, offering valuable insights into the regulation of their immune microenvironments.