Mitofusin 2 Promotes Apoptosis of CD4⁺ T Cells by Inhibiting Autophagy in Sepsis.

ABSTRACT: Apoptosis of CD4⁺ T cells is a primary pathophysiological mechanism of immune dysfunction in the pathogenesis of sepsis. Mitofusin 2 (Mfn2), an integral mitochondrial outer membrane protein, has been confirmed to be associated with cellular metabolism, proliferation, and apoptosis. The function of Mfn2 in CD4⁺ T cell apoptosis in sepsis is poorly understood. Here, we discovered increased in vivo Mfn2 expression, autophagy deficiency, and elevated cell apoptosis in murine splenic CD4⁺ T cells after cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). We also observed almost identical results in splenic CD4⁺ T cells upon lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation in vitro. Furthermore, overexpression of Mfn2 resulted in impaired autophagy and increased apopt

SUBMITTER: Ying L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5735308 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature