TGF-beta 1 uses distinct mechanisms to inhibit IFN-gamma expression in CD4+ T cells at priming and at recall: differential involvement of Stat4 and T-bet.
TGF-beta1 plays a critical role in restraining pathogenic Th1 autoimmune responses in vivo, but the mechanisms that mediate TGF-beta1's suppressive effects on CD4(+) T cell expression of IFN-gamma expression remain incompletely understood. To evaluate mechanisms by which TGF-beta1 inhibits IFN-gamma expression in CD4(+) T cells, we primed naive wild-type murine BALB/c CD4(+) T cells in vitro under Th1 development conditions in the presence or the absence of added TGF-beta1. We found that the presence of TGF-beta1 during priming of CD4(+) T cells suppressed both IFN-gamma expression during priming as well as the development of Th1 effector cells expressing IFN-gamma at a recall stimulation. TGF-beta1 inhibited the development of IFN-gamma-expressing cells in a dose-dependent fashion and in the absence of APC, indicating that TGF-beta1 can inhibit Th1 development by acting directly on the CD4(+) T cell. During priming, TGF-beta1 strongly inhibited the expression of both T-bet (T box expressed in T cells) and Stat4. We evaluated the importance of these two molecules in the suppression of IFN-gamma expression at the two phases of Th1 responses. Enforced expression of T-bet by retrovirus prevented TGF-beta1's inhibition of Th1 development, but did not prevent TGF-beta1's inhibition of IFN-gamma expression at priming. Conversely, enforced expression of Stat4 partly prevented TGF-beta1's inhibition of IFN-gamma expression during priming, but did not prevent TGF-beta1's inhibition of Th1 development. These data show that TGF-beta1 uses distinct mechanisms to inhibit IFN-gamma expression in CD4(+) T cells at priming and at recall.
Lin
Jack T
JT
Department of Microbiology and Immunology and The Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA.
Martin
Stacey L
SL
Xia
Luxi
L
Gorham
James D
JD
D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D050797:STAT4 Transcription Factor; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D050797:STAT4 Transcription Factor; C494090:STAT4 protein, human; C494091:Stat4 protein, mouse; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; C508961:Tgfb1 protein, mouse; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D007371:Interferon-gamma