Cutting edge: Lymphoproliferation caused by Fas deficiency is dependent on the transcription factor eomesodermin

J Immunol. 2010 Dec 15;185(12):7151-5. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1003193. Epub 2010 Nov 12.

Abstract

A hallmark of autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS), caused by mutation of the Fas death receptor, is massive lymphadenopathy from aberrant expansion of CD4(-)CD8(-) (double-negative [DN]) T cells. Eomesodermin (Eomes) is a member of the T-box family of transcription factors and plays critical roles in effector cell function and memory cell fitness of CD8(+) T lymphocytes. We provide evidence in this study that DN T cells exhibit dysregulated expression of Eomes in humans and mice with ALPS. We also find that T cell-specific deletion of Eomes prevents lymphoid hypertrophy and accumulation of DN T cells in Fas-mutant mice. Although Eomes has critical physiological roles in the function and homeostasis of CD8(+) T cells, overexpression of Eomes appears to enable pathological induction or expansion of unusual CD8-related T cell subsets. Thus, antagonism of Eomes emerges as a therapeutic target for DN T cell ablation in ALPS.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome / genetics
  • Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome / immunology*
  • Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome / pathology
  • Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome / therapy
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Memory / genetics
  • Immunologic Memory / immunology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / genetics
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / pathology
  • fas Receptor*

Substances

  • EOMES protein, human
  • Eomes protein, mouse
  • FAS protein, human
  • Fas protein, mouse
  • T-Box Domain Proteins
  • fas Receptor