Activation of naive CD4⁺ T cells re-tunes STAT1 signaling to deliver unique cytokine responses in memory CD4⁺ T cells.

ABSTRACT: The cytokine IL-6 controls the survival, proliferation and effector characteristics of lymphocytes through activation of the transcription factors STAT1 and STAT3. While STAT3 activity is an ever-present feature of IL-6 signaling in CD4⁺ T cells, prior activation via the T cell antigen receptor limits IL-6's control of STAT1 in effector and memory populations. Here we found that phosphorylation of STAT1 in response to IL-6 was regulated by the tyrosine phosphatases PTPN2 and PTPN22 expressed in response to the activation of naïve CD4⁺ T cells. Transcriptomics and chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-seq) of IL-6 responses in naïve and effector memory CD4⁺ T cells showed how the suppression of STAT1 activation shaped the functional identity and effector characteristics of memory CD4⁺ T cells. Thus, tyrosine phosphatases induced by the activation of naïve T cells determine the way activated or memory CD4⁺ T cells sense and interpret cytokine signals.

SUBMITTER: Twohig JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7610646 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature