| dc.description.abstract |
<p>Linker for Activation of T cells, LAT, is a transmembrane adaptor protein that
is vital for integrating TCR-mediated signals that modulate T cell development, activation,
and proliferation. Upon engagement of the T cell receptor, LAT is phosphorylated and
associates with Grb2, Gads, and PLCγ1 through its four distal tyrosine residues.
Mutation of tyrosine 136 abolishes LAT binding to PLCγ1. This results in impaired
TCR-mediated calcium mobilization and Erk activation. LATY136F knock-in mice have
a severe but incomplete block in T cell development. Yet, CD4+ αβ T cells
undergo uncontrolled expansion in the periphery, resulting in a severe autoimmune
syndrome characterized by Th2 skewing and resultant B cell autoreactivity. Here, we
further studied the role of LAT-PLCγ1 signaling in T cell lineage commitment,
cytokine production, and autoimmunity.</p><p>First, we investigated the importance
of the LAT-PLCγ1 interaction in γδ T cells by crossing LATY136F mice
with TCRβ-deficient mice. Our data showed that the LATY136F mutation had no major
effect on the homeostasis of epithelial γδ T cells, which could be found
in the skin and small intestine. Interestingly, a population of CD4+ γδ
T cells in the spleen and lymph nodes underwent continuous expansion and produced
elevated amounts of IL4, resulting in an autoimmune syndrome similar to that caused
by αβ T cells in LATY136F mice. Development of these hyperproliferative
γδ T cells was not dependent on expression of MHC class II or CD4, and their
proliferation could be partially suppressed by regulatory T cells. Our data indicated
that a unique subset of CD4+ γδ T cells could hyperproliferate in LATY136F
mice and suggested that LAT-PLCγ1 signaling may function differently in various
subsets of γδ T cells. </p><p>In addition to examining γδ and
αβ T cell development, we also were interested in further exploring the
role of LAT in cytokine production. While our previous data have demonstrated that
T cells in LATY136F mice are Th2 skewed, producing large amounts of IL4, we investigated
other cytokines that may be important for autoimmunity and found that these CD4+ αβ
T cells could also produce the proinflammatory cytokine IL6. Analysis of whole cell
lysates from CD4+ αβ LATY136F T cells demonstrated that NFκB, AKT,
and p38 were constitutively phosphorylated, and inhibition of these pathways resulted
in reduced IL6 production. By crossing LATY136F mice with IL6 deficient mice, we demonstrated
that early T cell survival was diminished in the absence of IL6. We further showed
that this reduced CD4+ T cell pool was not due to further blocks in development, or
an increase in FoxP3+ regulatory T cells. Finally, we demonstrated that over time,
CD4+ T cells do hyperproliferate, yet B cell class switching and autoreactivity remains
low. Our data uncovered a novel role for LAT-PLCγ1 signaling in regulating IL6
production by T cells during autoimmunity. </p><p>Finally, we wanted to further examine
IL4 production and T helper cell differentiation in LATY136F mice. We examined IL4
production using KN2 reporter mice, where huCD2 marks T cells that have recently produced
IL4 protein. We demonstrated that only a small proportion of the LATY136F T cells
were actively secreting IL4. This subset of T cells were Tfh cells that expressed
BCL6 and localized to B cell-rich germinal centers within the spleen. Most studies
to date have examined Tfh cells in infection models, and have demonstrated that Tfh
cells have very low expression of GATA3. Our results revealed in a spontaneous T cell-mediated
autoimmune model system, that Tfh cells express both high levels of BCL6 and GATA3.
Additionally, using an inducible deletion system, where normal development occurs,
we showed that Tfh cells differentiation is the result of aberrant LAT signaling,
rather than autoreactive TCRs with high affinity for self-peptide-MHC. LATY136F Tfh
cells did require B cells for their development. Together, these results displayed
a novel role for tonic LAT-PLCγ1 signaling in modulating Tfh cell differentiation
and BCL6 expression.</p>
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