T-bet is a STAT1-induced regulator of IL-12R expression in naïve CD4+ T cells

M Afkarian, JR Sedy, J Yang, NG Jacobson… - Nature …, 2002 - nature.com
M Afkarian, JR Sedy, J Yang, NG Jacobson, N Cereb, SY Yang, TL Murphy, KM Murphy
Nature immunology, 2002nature.com
Abstract T helper type 1 (TH1) cell development involves interferon-γ (IFN-γ) signaling
through signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) and interleukin-12 (IL-12)
signaling through STAT4 activation. We examined here T-bet regulation and evaluated the
actions of T-bet in STAT1-and STAT4-dependent TH1 development processes. We found
that T-bet expression during T cell activation was strongly dependent on IFN-γ signaling and
STAT1 activation, but was independent of STAT4. Ectopic T-bet expression strongly …
Abstract
T helper type 1 (TH1) cell development involves interferon-γ (IFN-γ) signaling through signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) signaling through STAT4 activation. We examined here T-bet regulation and evaluated the actions of T-bet in STAT1- and STAT4-dependent TH1 development processes. We found that T-bet expression during T cell activation was strongly dependent on IFN-γ signaling and STAT1 activation, but was independent of STAT4. Ectopic T-bet expression strongly increased IFN-γ production in TH2 cells activated by PMA-ionomycin, but weakly increased IFN-γ production in TH2 cells stimulated by IL-12–IL-18 or OVA peptide–antigen-presenting cell stimulation. In contrast, IL-12–IL-18–induced IFN-γ production remained STAT4-dependent despite ectopic T-bet expression. Ectopic T-bet expression selectively induced expression of IL-12Rβ2, but not IL-18Rα, in wild-type and STAT1−/− TH2 cells, but did not extinguish expression of GATA-3 and TH2 cytokines. Finally, ectopic T-bet did not directly induce expression of endogenous T- bet independently of IFN-γ or STAT1. Thus, T-bet is induced by IFN-γ and STAT1 signaling during T cell activation. In addition, T-bet mediates STAT1-dependent processes of TH1 development, including the induction of IL-12Rβ2.
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