S1P-S1PR1 signaling impairs CD8+ T cell metabolism and effector function in tumors

Abstract Sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1) signaling has been linked to the regulation of immunosuppressive cell populations within the tumor microenvironment (TME); however, its role in shaping anti-tumor CD8⁺ T cell responses remains poorly defined. Herein, we demonstrate that intratumoral CD8⁺ T cells express S1PR1, with expression predominantly enriched in the terminally exhausted subset. Transcriptomic profiling, combined with pharmacological inhibition and genetic knockdown, reveals that S1PR1-S1P signaling activates the PERK (protein kinase R (PKR)-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase)-CHOP (C/EBP homologous protein) axis of the endoplasmic reticulum stress response. CHOP, in turn, upregulates transcription of Map3k13 and Map3k15, triggering downstream MAPK signaling and culminating in activation of p38MAPK. Activation of this pathway impairs CD8⁺ T cell metabolism and effector function while increasing apoptotic susceptibility. This ultimately limits the persistence and accumulation of functional CD8⁺ T cells within the TME, thereby compromising their responsiveness to anti-PD-1 therapy. Targeting the S1PR1-S1P axis or its downstream effectors offers a promising strategy to improve cancer immunotherapy outcomes.