Steady-state memory-phenotype conventional CD4⁺ T cells exacerbate autoimmune neuroinflammation in a bystander manner via the Bhlhe40/GM-CSF axis.

ABSTRACT: Memory-phenotype (MP) CD4⁺ T cells are a substantial population of conventional T cells that exist in steady-state mice, yet their immunological roles in autoimmune disease remain unclear. In this work, we unveil a unique phenotype of MP CD4⁺ T cells determined by analyzing single-cell transcriptomic data and T cell receptor (TCR) repertoires. We found that steady-state MP CD4⁺ T cells in the spleen were composed of heterogeneous effector subpopulations and existed regardless of germ and food antigen exposure. Distinct subpopulations of MP CD4⁺ T cells were specifically activated by IL-1 family cytokines and STAT activators, revealing that the cells exerted TCR-independent bystander effector functions similar to innate lymphoid cells. In particul

SUBMITTER: Cho MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10238403 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature