Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) drives ILC2 pro-tumoral functions - bulk RNA sequencing of human TRKA+ and TRKA- ILC2s
ILC2s are key regulators of tissue homeostasis and inflammation. In cancer, ILC2s can exhibit pro-tumoral functions by increasing the MDSC/T-cell ratio. Nevertheless, the upstream ILC2 triggers remain poorly defined. Here, we identify NGF as the driver of ILC2 pro-tumoral functions in bladder cancer patients. We show that ILC2s express the NGF receptor TrkA and respond to NGF by secreting type-2 cytokines. In the tumor microenvironment, NGF-producing mast cells accumulate and activate ILC2s to induce Tregs, ultimately fostering tumor growth. In patients, NGF levels inversely correlate with survival in ILC2-rich tumors, underscoring the clinical significance of this axis. In vivo administration of a selective TrkA inhibitor improves survival in orthotopic tumor-bearing animals and sensitizes them to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). Overall, we identify NGF as a novel ILC2 activator that shapes pro-tumoral ILC2 functions. The blockade of TrkA+ ILC2s might represent a targetable strategy to improve survival, particularly in ICB-resistant patients. Overall design: To uncover transcriptomic differences between TrkA+ and TrkA- ILC2s, we sorted these two subpopulations from PBMCs of three healthy donors and performed bulk RNAseq.