Function and regulation of TRPP2 ion channel revealed by a gain-of-function mutant.

Mutations in polycystin-1 and transient receptor potential polycystin 2 (TRPP2) account for almost all clinically identified cases of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), one of the most common human genetic diseases. TRPP2 functions as a cation channel in its homomeric complex and in the TRPP2/polycystin-1 receptor/ion channel complex. The activation mechanism of TRPP2 is unknown, which significantly limits the study of its function and regulation. Here, we generated a constitutively active gain-of-function (GOF) mutant of TRPP2 by applying a mutagenesis scan on the S4-S5 linker and the S5 transmembrane domain, and studied functional properties of the GOF TRPP2 channel. We found that extracellular divalent ions, including Ca(2+), inhibit the permeation of monovalent ions by directly blocking the TRPP2 channel pore. We also found that D643, a negatively charged amino acid in the pore, is crucial for channel permeability. By introducing single-point ADPKD pathogenic mutations into the GOF TRPP2, we showed that different mutations could have completely different effects on channel activity. The in vivo function of the GOF TRPP2 was investigated in zebrafish embryos. The results indicate that, compared with wild type (WT), GOF TRPP2 more efficiently rescued morphological abnormalities, including curly tail and cyst formation in the pronephric kidney, caused by down-regulation of endogenous TRPP2 expression. Thus, we established a GOF TRPP2 channel that can serve as a powerful tool for studying the function and regulation of TRPP2. The GOF channel may also have potential application for developing new therapeutic strategies for ADPKD.

STAT4 increases the phenotypic and functional heterogeneity of intestinal tissue-resident memory T cells.

Tissue-resident memory T cells (Trms) are an important subset of lymphocytes that are lodged within non-lymphoid tissues and carry out diverse functions to control local pathogen replication. CD103 has been used to broadly define subsets of Trms within the intestine, with CD103+ and CD103- subsets having unique transcriptional profiles and effector functions. Here we identify signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) as an important regulator of CD103- Trm differentiation. STAT4-deficient cells trafficked to the intestine and localized to areas of infection but displayed impaired Trm differentiation with fewer CD103- Trms. Single-cell RNA-sequencing demonstrated that STAT4-deficiency led to a reduction in CD103- Trm subsets and expansion of a single population of CD103+ cells. Alterations in Trm populations were due, in part, to STAT4-mediated inhibition of transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß-driven expression of Trm signature genes. STAT4-dependent Trm populations expressed genes associated with cytokine production and cell migration, and STAT4-deficient Trm cells had altered localization within the tissue and reduced effector function after reactivation in vivo. Overall, our data indicate that STAT4 leads to increased differentiation of CD103- Trms, in part by modulating the expression of TGF-ß-regulated genes, and results in increased Trm heterogeneity and function within the intestinal tissue.

CD103 fate mapping reveals that intestinal CD103- tissue-resident memory T cells are the primary responders to secondary infection.

Tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells remain poised in the tissue and mediate robust protection from secondary infection. TRM cells within the intestine and other tissues are heterogeneous in their phenotype and function; however, the contributions of these TRM subsets to secondary infection remain poorly defined. To address the plasticity of intestinal TRM subsets and their role in local and systemic immunity, we generated mice to fate map intestinal CD103+ TRM cells and track their location and function during secondary infection with Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. We found that CD103+ TRM cells remained lodged in the tissue and were poorly reactivated during secondary challenge. CD103- TRM cells were the primary responders to secondary infection and expanded within the tissue, with limited contribution from circulating memory T cells. The transcriptional profile of CD103- TRM cells demonstrated maintenance of a gene signature similar to circulating T cells along with increased cytokine production and migratory potential. CD103- TRM cells also expressed genes associated with T cell receptor (TCR) activation and displayed enhanced TCR-mediated reactivation both in vitro and in vivo compared with their CD103+ counterparts. These studies reveal the limited recall potential of CD103+ TRM subsets and the role of CD103- TRM cells as central memory-like T cells within peripheral tissues.