CD8 TRM-like T cells expressing perforin and IFN-γ define a pediatric activated T-cell acute liver failure endotype
Hepatology Communications, 2026
Diamond T., Chapin C., Diorio C., McCuaig S., Lau M., Chu N., Gibson N., Kreiger P., Horslen S., Loomes K., Banc-Husu A., Chu J., Jensen M., Leung D., Narang A., Carter B., Elisofon S., Fischer R., Lobritto S., Leonis M., Peters A., Rodriguez-Baez N., Romero R., Rosenthal P., Rudnick D., Squires J., Sundaram S., Tolliver K., Valentino P., Durkalski V., Alonso E., Behrens E.
| Disease area | Application area | Sample type | Products |
|---|---|---|---|
Hepatology Pediatrics | Pathophysiology | Plasma |  Olink Explore 3072/384 |
Abstract
Background:
Activated T-cell pediatric acute liver failure (TC-PALF) is the most common cause of non-acetaminophen PALF, with poor transplant-free survival. Livers in TC-PALF are infiltrated by effector cytotoxic T lymphocytes with markers of tissue-resident memory function (CD8 Trm) and an interferon gamma (IFNγ) transcriptional signature. The PALF-Immune Response Network (PALF-IRN) and the prospective TReatment for ImmUne-Mediated PathopHysiology (TRIUMPH) clinical trial (NCT04862221) aim to characterize the TC-PALF immune pathology and utility of T-cell directed therapy to improve transplant-free survival.
Methods:
TRIUMPH patients with TC-PALF were compared with healthy children and disease controls utilizing multiparameter flow cytometry and 3′ single-cell RNA sequencing from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. TC-PALF patient serum was compared with healthy children and those with PALF from other causes, utilizing the Olink Inflammation I 384 protein assay.
Results:
Two distinct endotypes of TC-PALF were identified, which differed in flow cytometry CD8+ Perforin1 (Prf) expression and liver biopsy staining of Prf. TC-PALF patients with high CD8+ Prf (TC-PALF High Prf) had monocytosis, with a unique circulating CD8 IFNγ+ Trm-like population and IFNγ-responsive CD14/CD16 monocyte ligand–receptor interaction. TC-PALF patients with normal CD8+ Prf expression had hypergammaglobulinemia, an increase in class-switched B-cells, and a decrease in serum inflammatory proteins associated with myeloid activation.
Conclusions:
TC-PALF high Prf patients have a unique circulating CD8+ IFNγ+ Trm-like population accompanied by monocyte proliferation and activation. Further understanding of the role of IFNγ in TC-PALF High Prf may provide a therapeutic target for this endotype to improve transplant-free survival.