Assessment of TCR signal strength of antigen-specific memory CD8⁺ T cells in human blood.

ABSTRACT: Assessment of the quality and the breadth of antigen (Ag)-specific memory T cells in human samples is of paramount importance to elucidate the pathogenesis and to develop new treatments in various diseases. T-cell receptor (TCR) signal strength, primarily controlled by TCR affinity, affects many fundamental aspects of T-cell biology; however, no current assays for detection of Ag-specific CD8⁺ T cells can assess their TCR signal strength in human samples. Here, we provide evidence that interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4), a transcription factor rapidly upregulated in correlation with TCR signal strength, permits the assessment of the TCR signal strength of Ag-specific CD8⁺ T cells in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Coexpression of IRF4 and CD137 se

SUBMITTER: Wu H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6650739 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature