Notch signaling augments T cell responsiveness by enhancing CD25 expression

SH Adler, E Chiffoleau, L Xu, NM Dalton… - The Journal of …, 2003 - journals.aai.org
SH Adler, E Chiffoleau, L Xu, NM Dalton, JM Burg, AD Wells, MS Wolfe, LA Turka, WS Pear
The Journal of Immunology, 2003journals.aai.org
Notch receptors signal through a highly conserved pathway to influence cell fate decisions.
Notch1 is required for T lineage commitment; however, a role for Notch signaling has not
been clearly defined for the peripheral T cell response. Notch gene expression is induced,
and Notch1 is activated in primary CD4+ T cells following specific peptide-Ag stimulation.
Notch activity contributes to the peripheral T cell response, as inhibition of endogenous
Notch activation decreases the proliferation of activated T cells in a manner associated with …
Abstract
Notch receptors signal through a highly conserved pathway to influence cell fate decisions. Notch1 is required for T lineage commitment; however, a role for Notch signaling has not been clearly defined for the peripheral T cell response. Notch gene expression is induced, and Notch1 is activated in primary CD4+ T cells following specific peptide-Ag stimulation. Notch activity contributes to the peripheral T cell response, as inhibition of endogenous Notch activation decreases the proliferation of activated T cells in a manner associated with the diminished production of IL-2 and the expression of the high affinity IL-2R (CD25). Conversely, forced expression of a constitutively active Notch1 in primary T cells results in increased surface expression of CD25, and renders these cells more sensitive to both cognate Ag and IL-2, as measured by cell division. These data suggest an important role for Notch signaling during CD4+ T cell responses, which operates through augmenting a positive feedback loop involving IL-2 and its high affinity receptor.
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