TCR signal strength controls the differentiation of CD4⁺ effector and memory T cells.

ABSTRACT: CD4⁺ T cell responses are composed of heterogeneous T cell receptor (TCR) signals that influence the acquisition of effector and memory characteristics. We sought to define early TCR-dependent activation events that control T cell differentiation. A polyclonal panel of TCRs specific for the same viral antigen demonstrated substantial variability in TCR signal strength, expression of CD25, and activation of nuclear factor of activated T cells and nuclear factor κB. After viral infection, strong TCR signals corresponded to T helper cell (T_H1) differentiation, whereas T follicular helper cell and memory T cell differentiation were most efficient when TCR signals were comparatively lower. We observed substantial heterogeneity in TCR-dependent CD25 expression in vivo, and

SUBMITTER: Snook JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6126666 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature