Fig. 5.

IL7 increases memory-like CD8 T-cell population in the TME and the LN. A Memory T-cell gating strategy for flow cytometry for CD8 + T-cells. Central memory T-cells (Tcm) defined by CD62L⁺CD44⁺, effector memory T-cells (Tem) defined by CD62L⁻CD44⁺, and naïve T-cells (Tn) defined by CD62L⁺CD44⁻. The representative gating is from CD8 T-cells in the tumor. B Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) using the Reactome pathway was performed on bulk tumor proteomics. When comparing IL7 to the untreated group, this analysis revealed increased Wnt and TCF signaling. C Corresponding tumor flow cytometry that examines TCF1 and PD1 expression on CD8 T-cells as a proxy for stemness. D–K Flow cytometry results focusing on CD8 T-cell memory formation in the tumor and LN (n = 4 for RT, n = 5 for all other cohorts). PD1 expression was used as a surrogate for antigen experience in (G). L Distribution of Tcm, Tem, and Tn across the tumor, LN, and blood compartments for the RT + IL7 cohort. Statistics were computed using GSEA (B) and one-way ANOVA (C–K). The mean ± SEM is shown (C–K). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001