Autoreactive CD8⁺ T cells are restrained by an exhaustion-like program that is maintained by LAG3.

ABSTRACT: Impaired chronic viral and tumor clearance has been attributed to CD8⁺ T cell exhaustion, a differentiation state in which T cells have reduced and altered effector function that can be partially reversed upon blockade of inhibitory receptors. The role of the exhaustion program and transcriptional networks that control CD8⁺ T cell function and fate in autoimmunity is not clear. Here we show that intra-islet CD8⁺ T cells phenotypically, transcriptionally, epigenetically and metabolically possess features of canonically exhausted T cells, yet maintain important differences. This 'restrained' phenotype can be perturbed and disease accelerated by CD8⁺ T cell-restricted deletion of the inhibitory receptor lymphocyte activating gene 3 (LAG3). Mechanist

SUBMITTER: Grebinoski S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9179227 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature