STAT3 determines IL-4 signalling outcomes in naïve T cells

Sci Rep. 2021 May 18;11(1):10495. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-89860-7.

Abstract

IL-4 production is associated with low-avidity, poorly cytotoxic T cell induction that contributes to viral immune evasion and the failure of T cell-based vaccines. Yet, the precise mechanisms that regulate IL-4 signalling in T cells remain elusive. Mounting evidence indicates that cells can dynamically alter their IL-4/IL-13 receptor signature to modulate downstream immune outcomes upon pathogen encounter. Here, we describe how naïve (CD62L+CD44lo-mid) CD4 and CD8 T cells distinctly engage both STAT6 and STAT3 in response to IL-4. We further show that IL-4R⍺ expression is both time- and IL-4 concentration-dependent. Remarkably, our findings reveal that STAT3 inhibition can ablate IL-4R⍺ and affect transcriptional expression of other Stat and Jak family members. By extension, the loss of STAT3 lead to aberrant STAT6 phosphorylation, revealing an inter-regulatory relationship between the two transcription factors. Moreover, IL-4 stimulation down-regulated TGF-β1 and IFN-γR1 expression on naïve T cells, possibly signifying the broad regulatory implications of IL-4 in conditioning lineage commitment decisions during early infection. Surprisingly, naïve T cells were unresponsive to IL-13 stimulation, unlike dendritic cells. Collectively, these findings could be exploited to inform more efficacious vaccines, as well as design treatments against IL-4/IL-13-associated disease conditions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Female
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Phosphorylation
  • Receptors, Interleukin-4 / metabolism
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / physiology*
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Il4 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, Interleukin-4
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor
  • Stat3 protein, mouse
  • Stat6 protein, mouse
  • Interleukin-4