NK cells gain higher IFN-γ competence during terminal differentiation.
Eur J Immunol
; 44(7): 2074-84, 2014 Jul.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24752800
ABSTRACT
NK cells are the main cells of the innate immune system that produce IFN-γ, and they express this cytokine at early stages of maturation in response to cytokine stimulation. Conversely, acquisition of IFN-γ-competence in CD4(+) T helper cells requires a differentiation process from naïve toward type 1 (Th1) cells, which is associated with epigenetic remodeling at the IFNG locus. In the present study, we show that the ability of NK cells to produce IFN-γ in response to activating receptor (actR) engagement is gradually acquired during terminal differentiation and is accompanied by progressively higher NF-κB activation in response to actR triggering. Moreover, during the differentiation process NK cells gradually display increasing expression of IFNG and TBX21 (encoding T-bet) transcripts and demethylation at the IFNG promoter. This study provides new insights in the molecular mechanisms underlying NK-cell ability to express IFN-γ upon actR engagement. Thus, we propose that in order to efficiently produce IFN-γ in response to infected or transformed cells, NK cells gain Th1-like features, such as higher IFN-γ competence and epigenetic remodeling of the IFNG promoter, during their terminal differentiation.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Células Matadoras Naturais
/
Diferenciação Celular
/
Interferon gama
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Eur J Immunol
Ano de publicação:
2014
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Alemanha