title: The transcriptome of human cytotoxic T cells: similarities and disparities among allostimulated CD4(+) CTL, CD8(+) CTL and NK cells.
abstract: Transcripts expressed in cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) have mechanistic and diagnostic importance in transplantation. We used microarrays to select CTL-associated transcripts (CATs) expressed in human CD4(+) CTL, CD8(+) CTL and NK cells, excluding transcripts expressed in B cells, monocytes and kidney. This generated three transcript sets: CD4(+)-associated, CD8(+)-associated and NK-associated. Surprisingly, many CATs were expressed in effector memory cells e.g. granzyme B/GZMB, interferon-gamma/IFNG. Transcript expression was very similar between CD4(+) and CD8(+) CTL. There were no transcripts highly selective for CD4(+) CTL or CD8(+) CTL: for example, cytotoxic molecule transcripts (perforin, granzymes, granulysin) were shared between CD8(+) CTL and CD4(+) CTL although expression remained higher in CD8(+) CTL. Transcripts that differentiated between CD8(+) CTL and CD4(+) CTL were primarily those shared between CD8(+) CTL and NK cells (e.g. NK receptors KLRC1, KLRC3, KLRD1, KLRK1). No transcripts could differentiate CD4(+) CTL from CD8(+) CTL but NK cell-associated transcripts could differentiate NK cells from CTL. This study serves as a foundation for the interpretation of CATs in rejecting allografts and highlights the extensive sharing of CATs among CD4(+) CTL, CD8(+) CTL and effector memory T cells.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology & Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Hidalgo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Einecke
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Allanach
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Halloran
mesh_terms: D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger