Fig. 3

Reprogramming TME cells via gene editing. Gene editing is mainly used to reprogram CD8⁺ T cells, CD4⁺ T cells, NK cells, TAMs, and TAFs. ① The proliferation of CD8⁺ T cells is promoted by editing cytokine receptors on the CD8⁺ T-cell surface (above). The function of exhausted CD8⁺ T cells is restored by knocking out inhibitory receptors, altering the expression of transcription factors, or fusing inhibitory receptors and costimulatory domains (below). ② The differentiation of naive CD4⁺ T cells is regulated by altering the expression of transcription factors or surface-localized cytokine receptors. ③ The proliferation of NK cells is promoted by editing cytokines on the NK-cell surfaces (above). The function of exhausted NK cells is restored by knocking out inhibitory receptors, and their cytotoxicity is enhanced by altering the expression of genes involved in the ADCC process (below). ④ The polarization of M1 macrophages can be promoted by knocking out genes regulating cytokines in M0 macrophages or cytokine receptors expressed on M1 macrophages. ⑤ The differentiation of TAFs is regulated by altering their expression of cytokine receptors, and the function of cancer-promoting TAFs is weakened by inhibiting their release of inflammatory factors