Human T cells expressing BEND3 on their surface represent a novel subpopulation that preferentially produces IL-6 and IL-8.
BEN domain-containing protein 3 (BEND3) has no transmembrane region, is localized in the cytoplasm, and is involved in chromatin function and transcription. We here identified a novel subpopulation of human T cells that expressed BEND3 on their cell surface (BEND3(+) T cells). BEND3(+) T cells consisted of approximately 3% of T cells in the peripheral blood, were present in both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, and were also observed in cord blood. The stimulation of BEND3(+) T cells through the TCR/CD3 complex led to the production of various kinds of cytokines; however, the levels of IL-6 and IL-8 produced by BEND3(+) T cells were higher than those by BEND3(-) T cells. The proportion of BEND3(+) T cells was also increased in some patients with inflammatory diseases. Taken together, these results indicate that BEND3(+) T cells are a new subpopulation of T cells in terms of their cytokine profile. Further analyses on BEND3(+) T cells may be of importance and useful in understanding human T cell immunology.
Center for Innovation in Immunoregulative Technology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University Kyoto, Japan.
Hirokazu
H
Shiheido
Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University Kyoto, Japan.
Koji
K
Kitagori
Center for Innovation in Immunoregulative Technology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University Kyoto, Japan ; Pharmacology Research Laboratories, Drug Discovery Research, Astellas Pharma Inc. Tsukuba, Japan.
Chiyomi
C
Sasaki
Center for Innovation in Immunoregulative Technology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University Kyoto, Japan.
Shio
S
Kobayashi
Center for Innovation in Immunoregulative Technology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University Kyoto, Japan.
Takane
T
Aoyama
Center for Innovation in Immunoregulative Technology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University Kyoto, Japan.
Kozue
K
Urata
Center for Innovation in Immunoregulative Technology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University Kyoto, Japan ; Pharmacology Research Laboratories, Drug Discovery Research, Astellas Pharma Inc. Tsukuba, Japan.
Takuma
T
Oku
Center for Innovation in Immunoregulative Technology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University Kyoto, Japan ; Pharmacology Research Laboratories, Drug Discovery Research, Astellas Pharma Inc. Tsukuba, Japan.
Yoshitaka
Y
Hirayama
Center for Innovation in Immunoregulative Technology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University Kyoto, Japan.
Hiroyuki
H
Yoshitomi
Center for Innovation in Immunoregulative Technology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University Kyoto, Japan.
Masaki
M
Hikida
Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University Kyoto, Japan.
Hajime
H
Yoshifuji
Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University Kyoto, Japan.
Tsuneyo
T
Mimori
Center for Innovation in Immunoregulative Technology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University Kyoto, Japan.
Takeshi
T
Watanabe
Center for Innovation in Immunoregulative Technology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University Kyoto, Japan.
Jun
J
Shimizu
BEND3; IL-6; IL-8