Thymic selection pathway regulates the effector function of CD4 T cells.
Recently, a new developmental pathway for CD4 T cells that is mediated by major histocompatibility complex class II-positive thymocytes was identified (Choi, E.Y., K.C. Jung, H.J. Park, D.H. Chung, J.S. Song, S.D. Yang, E. Simpson, and S.H. Park. 2005. Immunity. 23:387-396; Li, W., M.G. Kim, T.S. Gourley, B.P. McCarthy, D.B. Sant'angelo, and C.H. Chang. 2005. Immunity. 23:375-386). We demonstrate that thymocyte-selected CD4 (T-CD4) T cells can rapidly produce interferon gamma and interleukin (IL) 4 upon in vivo and in vitro T cell receptor stimulation. These T-CD4 T cells appear to be effector cells producing both T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th2 cytokines, and they maintain a potential to produce Th2 cytokines under Th1-skewing conditions in a signal transducer and activator of transcription 6-independent manner. The IL-4 mRNA level is high in CD4 single-positive thymocytes if they are selected on thymocytes, which is at least partly caused by enhanced histone acetylation of the IL-4 locus. However, mice that can generate T-CD4 T cells showed attenuated immune responses in an allergen-induced airway inflammation model, suggesting a protective role for T-CD4 T cells during an airway challenge. Our results imply that this thymic selection pathway plays an important role in determining the effector function of the resulting CD4 cells and in regulating immune response.
Li
Wei
W
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
Sofi
M Hanief
MH
Yeh
Norman
N
Sehra
Sarita
S
McCarthy
Brian P
BP
Patel
Dipak R
DR
Brutkiewicz
Randy R
RR
Kaplan
Mark H
MH
Chang
Cheong-Hee
CH
D000485:Allergens; D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010641:Phenotype; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000473:pathology; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology*
D000485:Allergens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma