iNKT cells require TSC1 for terminal maturation and effector lineage fate decisions

J Clin Invest. 2014 Apr;124(4):1685-98. doi: 10.1172/JCI69780. Epub 2014 Mar 10.

Abstract

Terminal maturation of invariant NKT (iNKT) cells from stage 2 (CD44+NK1.1-) to stage 3 (CD44+NK1.1+) is accompanied by a functional acquisition of a predominant IFN-γ-producing (iNKT-1) phenotype; however, some cells develop into IL-17-producing iNKT (iNKT-17) cells. iNKT-17 cells are rare and restricted to a CD44+NK1.1- lineage. It is unclear how iNKT terminal maturation is regulated and what factors mediate the predominance of iNKT-1 compared with iNKT-17. The tumor suppressor tuberous sclerosis 1 (TSC1) is an important negative regulator of mTOR signaling, which regulates T cell differentiation, function, and trafficking. Here, we determined that mice lacking TSC1 exhibit a developmental block of iNKT differentiation at stage 2 and skew from a predominantly iNKT-1 population toward a predominantly iNKT-17 population, leading to enhanced airway hypersensitivity. Evaluation of purified iNKT cells revealed that TSC1 promotes T-bet, which regulates iNKT maturation, but downregulates ICOS expression in iNKT cells by inhibiting mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1). Furthermore, mice lacking T-bet exhibited both a terminal maturation defect of iNKT cells and a predominance of iNKT-17 cells, and increased ICOS expression was required for the predominance of iNKT-17 cells in the population of TSC1-deficient iNKT cells. Our data indicate that TSC1-dependent control of mTORC1 is crucial for terminal iNKT maturation and effector lineage decisions, resulting in the predominance of iNKT-1 cells.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adaptive Immunity
  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Lineage
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Inducible T-Cell Co-Stimulator Protein / metabolism
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-17 / biosynthesis
  • Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Models, Biological
  • Multiprotein Complexes / metabolism
  • Natural Killer T-Cells / cytology
  • Natural Killer T-Cells / immunology*
  • Natural Killer T-Cells / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / metabolism
  • T-bet Transcription Factor
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 1 Protein
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / deficiency
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Icos protein, mouse
  • Inducible T-Cell Co-Stimulator Protein
  • Interleukin-17
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3
  • Rorc protein, mouse
  • T-Box Domain Proteins
  • T-bet Transcription Factor
  • Tsc1 protein, mouse
  • Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 1 Protein
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases