Intrathymic programming of effector fates in three molecularly distinct ?? T cell subtypes.

ABSTRACT: Innate ?? T cells function in the early phase of immune responses. Although innate ?? T cells have often been studied as one homogenous population, they can be functionally classified into effector subsets on the basis of the production of signature cytokines, analogous to adaptive helper T cell subsets. However, unlike the function of adaptive T cells, ?? effector T cell function correlates with genomically encoded T cell antigen receptor (TCR) chains, which suggests that clonal TCR selection is not the main determinant of the differentiation of ?? effector cells. A high-resolution transcriptome analysis of all emergent ?? thymocyte subsets segregated on the basis of use of the TCR ?-chain or ?-chain indicated the existence of three separate subtypes of ?? effector cells in the thymus. The immature ?? subsets were distinguished by unique transcription-factor modules that program effector function.

SUBMITTER: Narayan K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3427768 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature