Lamin A/C augments Th1 differentiation and response against vaccinia virus and Leishmania major

Cell Death Dis. 2018 Jan 8;9(1):9. doi: 10.1038/s41419-017-0007-6.

Abstract

Differentiation of naive CD4+ T-cells into functionally distinct T helper (Th) subsets is critical to immunity against pathogen infection. Little is known about the role of signals emanating from the nuclear envelope for T-cell differentiation. The nuclear envelope protein lamin A/C is induced in naive CD4+ T-cells upon antigen recognition and acts as a link between the nucleus and the plasma membrane during T-cell activation. Here we demonstrate that the absence of lamin A/C in naive T-cell reduces Th1 differentiation without affecting Th2 differentiation in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, Rag1 -/- mice reconstituted with Lmna -/- CD4+CD25 - T-cells and infected with vaccinia virus show weaker Th1 responses and viral removal than mice reconstituted with wild-type T-cells. Th1 responses and pathogen clearance upon Leishmania major infection were similarly diminished in mice lacking lamin A/C in the complete immune system or selectively in T-cells. Lamin A/C mediates Th1 polarization by a mechanism involving T-bet and IFNγ production. Our results reveal a novel role for lamin A/C as key regulator of Th1 differentiation in response to viral and intracellular parasite infections.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Immune System / metabolism
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism
  • Lamin Type A / deficiency
  • Lamin Type A / genetics*
  • Leishmania major / pathogenicity
  • Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / immunology
  • Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / pathology*
  • Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / veterinary
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / metabolism
  • Th1 Cells / cytology
  • Th1 Cells / immunology
  • Th1 Cells / metabolism*
  • Vaccinia / immunology
  • Vaccinia / pathology*
  • Vaccinia / veterinary
  • Vaccinia virus / pathogenicity

Substances

  • Lamin Type A
  • T-Box Domain Proteins
  • T-box transcription factor TBX21
  • Interleukin-4
  • Interferon-gamma