TY - JOUR
T1 - T cells at work: How post-transcriptional mechanisms control T cell homeostasis and activation
AU - Jurgens, Anouk P.
AU - Popović, Branka
AU - Wolkers, Monika C.
N1 - Funding Information: The authors would like to thank the Wolkers lab for critical reading of the manuscript. This work was supported by the Oncode Institute, the Dutch Cancer Society (KWF 10132) and the European Research council (ERC) consolidator award PRINTERS 817533. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Authors. European Journal of Immunology published by Wiley-VCH GmbH
PY - 2021/9/1
Y1 - 2021/9/1
N2 - T cells are central players of the adaptive immune system by protecting us from recurring infections and by killing malignant cells. Protective T cell responses rely on the concerted production of effector molecules such as cytolytic mediators, granzymes, and perforins, as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Once activated, T cells drastically change their gene expression and rapidly respond to insults by producing ample amounts of effector molecules. In the absence of antigen, T cells remain in a quiescent state and survey our body for possible pathogenic insults. Resting T cells are, however, not inert, but continuously regulate their protein production to survive and to be prepared for possible re-infections. Here, we review our current knowledge on the regulation of gene expression in activated and quiescent T cells. We specifically focus on post-transcriptional mechanisms that define the protein output and that allow dormant cells to undergo active signaling and selective translation, keeping them poised for activation. Finally, we discuss which signals drive T cell survival and their preparedness to respond to insults and which mechanisms are involved in these processes.
AB - T cells are central players of the adaptive immune system by protecting us from recurring infections and by killing malignant cells. Protective T cell responses rely on the concerted production of effector molecules such as cytolytic mediators, granzymes, and perforins, as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Once activated, T cells drastically change their gene expression and rapidly respond to insults by producing ample amounts of effector molecules. In the absence of antigen, T cells remain in a quiescent state and survey our body for possible pathogenic insults. Resting T cells are, however, not inert, but continuously regulate their protein production to survive and to be prepared for possible re-infections. Here, we review our current knowledge on the regulation of gene expression in activated and quiescent T cells. We specifically focus on post-transcriptional mechanisms that define the protein output and that allow dormant cells to undergo active signaling and selective translation, keeping them poised for activation. Finally, we discuss which signals drive T cell survival and their preparedness to respond to insults and which mechanisms are involved in these processes.
KW - RNA binding proteins
KW - T cell activation
KW - post-transcriptional regulation
KW - proteome
KW - quiescence
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85109986741&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1002/eji.202049055
DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/eji.202049055
M3 - Review article
C2 - 34180545
SN - 0014-2980
VL - 51
SP - 2178
EP - 2187
JO - European journal of immunology
JF - European journal of immunology
IS - 9
ER -