The transcription factor Rfx7 limits metabolism of NK cells and promotes their maintenance and immunity

Nat Immunol. 2018 Aug;19(8):809-820. doi: 10.1038/s41590-018-0144-9. Epub 2018 Jul 2.

Abstract

Regulatory factor X 7 (Rfx7) is an uncharacterized transcription factor belonging to a family involved in ciliogenesis and immunity. Here, we found that deletion of Rfx7 leads to a decrease in natural killer (NK) cell maintenance and immunity in vivo. Genomic approaches showed that Rfx7 coordinated a transcriptional network controlling cell metabolism. Rfx7-/- NK lymphocytes presented increased size, granularity, proliferation, and energetic state, whereas genetic reduction of mTOR activity mitigated those defects. Notably, Rfx7-deficient NK lymphocytes were rescued by interleukin 15 through engagement of the Janus kinase (Jak) pathway, thus revealing the importance of this signaling for maintenance of such spontaneously activated NK cells. Rfx7 therefore emerges as a novel transcriptional regulator of NK cell homeostasis and metabolic quiescence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Survival
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chimera
  • Energy Metabolism
  • Gene Regulatory Networks
  • Immunity, Cellular / genetics
  • Immunity, Innate / genetics
  • Interleukin-15 / metabolism*
  • Janus Kinases / metabolism
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Regulatory Factor X1 / genetics
  • Regulatory Factor X1 / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Interleukin-15
  • Regulatory Factor X1
  • Janus Kinases
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases