Affinity and Dose of TCR Engagement Yield Proportional Enhancer and Gene Activity in CD4+ T Cells

ABSTRACT: Affinity and dose of T cell receptor (TCR) interaction with antigens govern the magnitude of CD4+ T cell responses, but questions remain regarding the quantitative translation of TCR engagement into downstream signals. We find that while the response of CD4+ T cells to antigenic stimulation is bimodal, activated cells exhibit analog responses proportional to signal strength. Gene expression output reflects TCR signal strength, providing a signature of T cell activation. Expression changes rely on a pre-established enhancer landscape and quantitative acetylation at AP-1 binding sites. Finally, we show that graded expression of activation genes depends on ERK pathway activation, suggesting that an ERK-AP-1 axis translates TCR signal strength into proportional activation of enhancers and gene

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

SUBMITTER: Karmel Allison 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-69545 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress