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

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.