CD39-stratified CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma profiled by bulk RNA sequencing after ex vivo anti-PD-1 and polydatin treatment

CD8+ TILs were sorted by flow cytometry into CD39-negative, CD39-medium and CD39-high populations and cultured for 72 h under four conditions: vehicle only, anti-PD-1 (nivolumab), polydatin (a G6PD inhibitor), and the combination of anti-PD-1 and polydatin. Bulk RNA sequencing of the twelve resulting libraries was used to determine how CD39 expression level stratifies the transcriptional response to combined checkpoint blockade and metabolic inhibition.