Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42020400›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

The GFI1-FOXO1 axis regulates NK cell maturation and function.

Qiutong Huang, M Zeeshan Chaudhry, James Dight, Louisa Alim, Huiyang Yu, Renae Denman, Hiu On Man, Jaring Schreuder, Alexandra L Garnham, Zewen K Tuong and 3 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Qiutong Huang *The University of Queensland Frazer Institute, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4556-0605
M Zeeshan Chaudhry *The University of Queensland Frazer Institute, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia. mz.chaudhry@uq.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1372-4257
James DightThe University of Queensland Frazer Institute, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia.
Louisa AlimThe University of Queensland Frazer Institute, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6065-571X
Huiyang YuThe University of Queensland Frazer Institute, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3670-7898
Renae DenmanThe University of Queensland Frazer Institute, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9695-8528
Hiu On ManThe University of Queensland Frazer Institute, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia.
Jaring SchreuderThe University of Queensland Frazer Institute, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7579-0006
Alexandra L GarnhamWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Zewen K TuongIan Frazer Centre for Children's Immunotherapy Research, Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6735-6808
Fernando Souza-Fonseca-GuimaraesThe University of Queensland Frazer Institute, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2037-8946
Nicolas JacquelotRiddell Centre for Cancer Immunotherapy, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0282-1892
Gabrielle T BelzThe University of Queensland Frazer Institute, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia. g.belz@uq.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9660-9587

Funding

Department of Education and Training | Australian Research Council (ARC) DP200101058, DP230101156 and FL240100130Department of Health | National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) 1165443, 1122277, 1054925, 1135898 and 2008542
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Natural killer cells defend against malignancies and viral infections through a tightly controlled program of differentiation and maturation. However, the transcriptional mechanisms guiding this process remain incompletely defined. Using paired single-cell multiomic profiling, we identify GFI1 as an epigenetic regulator of NK cell differentiation, coordinating EOMES and T-BET transcriptional balance to promote NK cell proliferation and the transition from immature to terminally differentiated NK cell states. GFI1 represses FOXO1 chromatin accessibility in mature NK cells, which normally limits NK cell proliferation and maturation. Co-deletion of both GFI1 and FOXO1 largely rescues NK cell differentiation, identifying a critical GFI1-FOXO1 axis required for protection against tumour metastasis. These findings position GFI1 as a key transcriptional node integrating NK cell differentiation, activation and effector programs.

Indexed as

DNA-Binding ProteinsForkhead Box Protein O1Killer Cells, NaturalTranscription FactorsAnimalsCell DifferentiationCell ProliferationMiceMice, Inbred C57BLT-bet Transcription FactorT-Box Domain ProteinsDNA-Binding ProteinsEomes protein, mouseForkhead Box Protein O1Foxo1 protein, mouseGfi1 protein, mouseT-bet Transcription FactorT-Box Domain ProteinsTranscription Factors

Identifiers

PMID42020400
PMCPMC13315798

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.