Distinct effects of STAT5 activation on CD4+ and CD8+ T cell homeostasis: development of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells versus CD8+ memory T cells

J Immunol. 2003 Dec 1;171(11):5853-64. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.171.11.5853.

Abstract

Using transgenic mice that express a constitutively active version of STAT5b, we demonstrate that STAT5 plays a key role in governing B cell development and T cell homeostasis. STAT5 activation leads to a 10-fold increase in pro-B, but not pro-T, cells. Conversely, STAT5 signaling promotes the expansion of mature alphabeta T cells (6-fold increase) and gammadelta and NK T cells (3- to 4-fold increase), but not of mature B cells. In addition, STAT5 activation has dramatically divergent effects on CD8(+) vs CD4(+) T cells, leading to the selective expansion of CD8(+) memory-like T cells and CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells. These results establish that activation of STAT5 is the primary mechanism underlying both IL-7/IL-15-dependent homeostatic proliferation of naive and memory CD8(+) T cells and IL-2-dependent development of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / cytology
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology
  • Cell Division / genetics
  • Cell Division / immunology
  • Crosses, Genetic
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Homeostasis / genetics
  • Homeostasis / immunology*
  • Immunologic Memory* / genetics
  • Killer Cells, Natural / cytology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Milk Proteins*
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / physiology
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / metabolism
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2 / biosynthesis
  • STAT5 Transcription Factor
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / cytology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism
  • Trans-Activators / physiology*
  • Up-Regulation / genetics
  • Up-Regulation / immunology

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Milk Proteins
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2
  • STAT5 Transcription Factor
  • Stat5b protein, mouse
  • Trans-Activators