| First Author | Li Y | Year | 2024 |
| Journal | Nat Immunol | Volume | 25 |
| Issue | 7 | Pages | 1231-1244 |
| PubMed ID | 38898157 | Mgi Jnum | J:354894 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:7736806 | Doi | 10.1038/s41590-024-01860-7 |
| Citation | Li Y, et al. (2024) Stem-like T cells are associated with the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis in humans. Nat Immunol 25(7):1231-1244 |
| abstractText | To understand the role of T cells in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC), we analyzed colonic T cells isolated from patients with UC and controls. Here we identified colonic CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocyte subsets with gene expression profiles resembling stem-like progenitors, previously reported in several mouse models of autoimmune disease. Stem-like T cells were increased in inflamed areas compared to non-inflamed regions from the same patients. Furthermore, TCR sequence analysis indicated stem-like T cells were clonally related to proinflammatory T cells, suggesting their involvement in sustaining effectors that drive inflammation. Using an adoptive transfer colitis model in mice, we demonstrated that CD4(+) T cells deficient in either BCL-6 or TCF1, transcription factors that promote T cell stemness, had decreased colon T cells and diminished pathogenicity. Our results establish a strong association between stem-like T cell populations and UC pathogenesis, highlighting the potential of targeting this population to improve clinical outcomes. |
