TY - JOUR
T1 - The Transcription Factor Hobit Identifies Human Cytotoxic CD4(+) T Cells
AU - Oja, Anna E.
AU - Vieira Braga, Felipe A.
AU - Remmerswaal, Ester B. M.
AU - Kragten, Natasja A. M.
AU - Hertoghs, Kirsten M. L.
AU - Zuo, Jianmin
AU - Moss, Paul A.
AU - van Lier, René A. W.
AU - van Gisbergen, Klaas P. J. M.
AU - Hombrink, Pleun
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - The T cell lineage is commonly divided into CD4-expressing helper T cells that polarize immune responses through cytokine secretion and CD8-expressing cytotoxic T cells that eliminate infected target cells by virtue of the release of cytotoxic molecules. Recently, a population of CD4(+) T cells that conforms to the phenotype of cytotoxic CD8(+) T cells has received increased recognition. These cytotoxic CD4(+) T cells display constitutive expression of granzyme B and perforin at the protein level and mediate HLA class II-dependent killing of target cells. In humans, this cytotoxic profile is found within the human cytomegalovirus (hCMV)-specific, but not within the influenza- or Epstein-Barr virus-specific CD4(+) T cell populations, suggesting that, in particular, hCMV infection induces the formation of cytotoxic CD4(+) T cells. We have previously described that the transcription factor Homolog of Blimp-1 in T cells (Hobit) is specifically upregulated in CD45RA(+) effector CD8(+) T cells that arise after hCMV infection. Here, we describe the expression pattern of Hobit in human CD4(+) T cells. We found Hobit expression in cytotoxic CD4(+) T cells and accumulation of Hobit(+) CD4(+) T cells after primary hCMV infection. The Hobit(+) CD4(+) T cells displayed highly overlapping characteristics with Hobit(+) CD8(+) T cells, including the expression of cytotoxic molecules, T-bet, and CX3CR1. Interestingly, γδ(+) T cells that arise after hCMV infection also upregulate Hobit expression and display a similar effector phenotype as cytotoxic CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. These findings suggest a shared differentiation pathway in CD4(+), CD8(+), and γδ(+) T cells that may involve Hobit-driven acquisition of long-lived cytotoxic effector function
AB - The T cell lineage is commonly divided into CD4-expressing helper T cells that polarize immune responses through cytokine secretion and CD8-expressing cytotoxic T cells that eliminate infected target cells by virtue of the release of cytotoxic molecules. Recently, a population of CD4(+) T cells that conforms to the phenotype of cytotoxic CD8(+) T cells has received increased recognition. These cytotoxic CD4(+) T cells display constitutive expression of granzyme B and perforin at the protein level and mediate HLA class II-dependent killing of target cells. In humans, this cytotoxic profile is found within the human cytomegalovirus (hCMV)-specific, but not within the influenza- or Epstein-Barr virus-specific CD4(+) T cell populations, suggesting that, in particular, hCMV infection induces the formation of cytotoxic CD4(+) T cells. We have previously described that the transcription factor Homolog of Blimp-1 in T cells (Hobit) is specifically upregulated in CD45RA(+) effector CD8(+) T cells that arise after hCMV infection. Here, we describe the expression pattern of Hobit in human CD4(+) T cells. We found Hobit expression in cytotoxic CD4(+) T cells and accumulation of Hobit(+) CD4(+) T cells after primary hCMV infection. The Hobit(+) CD4(+) T cells displayed highly overlapping characteristics with Hobit(+) CD8(+) T cells, including the expression of cytotoxic molecules, T-bet, and CX3CR1. Interestingly, γδ(+) T cells that arise after hCMV infection also upregulate Hobit expression and display a similar effector phenotype as cytotoxic CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. These findings suggest a shared differentiation pathway in CD4(+), CD8(+), and γδ(+) T cells that may involve Hobit-driven acquisition of long-lived cytotoxic effector function
U2 - https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2017.00325
DO - https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2017.00325
M3 - Article
C2 - 28392788
SN - 1664-3224
VL - 8
SP - 325
JO - Frontiers in immunology
JF - Frontiers in immunology
ER -