Protein kinase C theta is required for efficient induction of IL-10-secreting T cells

PLoS One. 2017 Feb 3;12(2):e0171547. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171547. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Secretion of interleukin-10 (IL-10) by CD4+ T cells is an essential immunoregulatory mechanism. The work presented here assesses the role of the signaling molecule protein kinase C theta (PKCθ) in the induction of IL-10 expression in CD4+ T cells. Using wildtype and PKCθ-deficient Tg4 T cell receptor transgenic mice, we implemented a well-described protocol of repeated doses of myelin basic protein (MBP)Ac1-9[4Y] antigen to induce Tr1-like IL-10+ T cells. We find that PKCθ is required for the efficient induction of IL-10 following antigen administration. Both serum concentrations of IL-10 and the proportion of IL-10+ T cells were reduced in PKCθ-deficient mice relative to wildtype mice following [4Y] treatment. We further characterized the T cells of [4Y] treated PKCθ-deficient Tg4 mice and found reduced expression of the transcription factors cMaf, Nfil3 and FoxP3 and the surface receptors PD-1 and Tim3, all of which have been associated with the differentiation or function of IL-10+ T cells. Finally, we demonstrated that, unlike [4Y] treated wildtype Tg4 T cells, cells from PKCθ-deficient mice were unable to suppress the priming of naïve T cells in vitro and in vivo. In summary, we present data demonstrating a role for PKCθ in the induction of suppressive, IL-10-secreting T cells induced in TCR-transgenic mice following chronic antigen administration. This should be considered when contemplating PKCθ as a suitable drug target for inducing immune suppression and graft tolerance.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Immune Tolerance
  • Interleukin-10 / blood
  • Interleukin-10 / metabolism*
  • Isoenzymes / physiology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Myelin Basic Protein / immunology
  • Protein Kinase C / physiology*
  • Protein Kinase C-theta
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • IL10 protein, mouse
  • Isoenzymes
  • Myelin Basic Protein
  • Interleukin-10
  • Prkcq protein, mouse
  • Protein Kinase C
  • Protein Kinase C-theta