Pten loss in CD4 T cells enhances their helper function but does not lead to autoimmunity or lymphoma

J Immunol. 2012 Jun 15;188(12):5935-43. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1102116. Epub 2012 May 18.

Abstract

PTEN, one of the most commonly mutated or lost tumor suppressors in human cancers, antagonizes signaling by the PI3K pathway. Mice with thymocyte-specific deletion of Pten rapidly develop peripheral lymphomas and autoimmunity, which may be caused by failed negative selection of thymocytes or from dysregulation of postthymic T cells. We induced conditional deletion of Pten from CD4 Th cells using a Cre knocked into the Tnfrsf4 (OX40) locus to generate OX40(Cre)Pten(f) mice. Pten-deficient Th cells proliferated more and produced greater concentrations of cytokines. The OX40(Cre)Pten(f) mice had a general increase in the number of lymphocytes in the lymph nodes, but not in the spleen. When transferred into wild-type (WT) mice, Pten-deficient Th cells enhanced anti-Listeria responses and the clearance of tumors under conditions in which WT T cells had no effect. Moreover, inflammatory responses were exaggerated and resolved later in OX40(Cre)Pten(f) mice than in WT mice. However, in contrast with models of thymocyte-specific Pten deletion, lymphomas and autoimmunity were not observed, even in older OX40(Cre)Pten(f) mice. Hence loss of Pten enhances Th cell function without obvious deleterious effects.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoimmunity
  • Blotting, Western
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Knock-In Techniques
  • Homeostasis / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Lymphoma / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / immunology*
  • Signal Transduction / immunology

Substances

  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • Pten protein, mouse