Identification of CD112R as a novel checkpoint for human T cells

Abstract

T cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT) and CD226 emerge as a novel T cell cosignaling pathway in which CD226 and TIGIT serve as costimulatory and coinhibitory receptors, respectively, for the ligands CD155 and CD112. In this study, we describe CD112R, a member of poliovirus receptor–like proteins, as a new coinhibitory receptor for human T cells. CD112R is preferentially expressed on T cells and inhibits T cell receptor–mediated signals. We further identify that CD112, widely expressed on antigen-presenting cells and tumor cells, is the ligand for CD112R with high affinity. CD112R competes with CD226 to bind to CD112. Disrupting the CD112R–CD112 interaction enhances human T cell response. Our experiments identify CD112R as a novel checkpoint for human T cells via interaction with CD112.