The transcription factor Foxo1 controls central-memory CD8+ T cell responses to infection

Immunity. 2013 Aug 22;39(2):286-97. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2013.07.013. Epub 2013 Aug 8.

Abstract

Memory T cells protect hosts from pathogen reinfection, but how these cells emerge from a pool of antigen-experienced T cells is unclear. Here, we show that mice lacking the transcription factor Foxo1 in activated CD8+ T cells have defective secondary, but not primary, responses to Listeria monocytogenes infection. Compared to short-lived effector T cells, memory-precursor T cells expressed higher amounts of Foxo1, which promoted their generation and maintenance. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing revealed the transcription factor Tcf7 and the chemokine receptor Ccr7 as Foxo1-bound target genes, which have critical functions in central-memory T cell differentiation and trafficking. These findings demonstrate that Foxo1 is selectively incorporated into the genetic program that regulates memory CD8+ T cell responses to infection.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer
  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Cells
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Forkhead Box Protein O1
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / deficiency
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha
  • Immunologic Memory / immunology*
  • Listeria monocytogenes / immunology
  • Listeriosis / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Receptors, CCR7 / metabolism*
  • T Cell Transcription Factor 1 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Ccr7 protein, mouse
  • Forkhead Box Protein O1
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxo1 protein, mouse
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha
  • Hnf1a protein, mouse
  • Receptors, CCR7
  • T Cell Transcription Factor 1
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE46944