How do autoimmune CD4+ T cells handle exhaustion?

Astrid Fabri; Lucy S K Walker

doi:10.1016/j.it.2024.11.004

How do autoimmune CD4⁺ T cells handle exhaustion?

Trends Immunol. 2024 Dec;45(12):922-924. doi: 10.1016/j.it.2024.11.004. Epub 2024 Nov 27.

Authors

Astrid Fabri¹, Lucy S K Walker²

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Pears Building, University College London Division of Infection and Immunity, Royal Free Campus, London NW3 2PP, UK.
² Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Pears Building, University College London Division of Infection and Immunity, Royal Free Campus, London NW3 2PP, UK. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 39603888
DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2024.11.004

Abstract

Chronic antigen exposure is frequently associated with T cell exhaustion. In a recent study, Aljobaily et al. show that pancreatic islet-infiltrating CD4⁺ T cells in mouse autoimmune diabetes may circumvent exhaustion by preserving TCF1 expression. Continuous recruitment of epigenetically pre-programmed CD62L⁺ CD4⁺ T cells seems to sustain the local autoimmune response.

Keywords: CD4 T cell; autoimmunity; exhaustion; stemness; type 1 diabetes.

MeSH terms

Animals
Autoimmunity*
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes* / immunology
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1* / immunology
Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha / metabolism
Humans
Islets of Langerhans / immunology
Mice

Substances

Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha