| First Author | Tsai JJ | Year | 2018 |
| Journal | Blood | Volume | 132 |
| Issue | 26 | Pages | 2763-2774 |
| PubMed ID | 30381375 | Mgi Jnum | J:268986 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6272894 | Doi | 10.1182/blood-2017-10-812941 |
| Citation | Tsai JJ, et al. (2018) Nrf2 regulates CD4(+) T cell-induced acute graft-versus-host disease in mice. Blood 132(26):2763-2774 |
| abstractText | Nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (Nrf2) is a ubiquitously expressed transcription factor that is well known for its role in regulating the cellular redox pathway. Although there is mounting evidence suggesting a critical role for Nrf2 in hematopoietic stem cells and innate leukocytes, little is known about its involvement in T-cell biology. In this study, we identified a novel role for Nrf2 in regulating alloreactive T-cell function during allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). We observed increased expression and nuclear translocation of Nrf2 upon T-cell activation in vitro, especially in CD4(+) donor T cells after allo-HCT. Allo-HCT recipients of Nrf2 (-/-) donor T cells had significantly less acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)-induced mortality, morbidity, and pathology. This reduction in GVHD was associated with the persistence of Helios(+) donor regulatory T cells in the allograft, as well as defective upregulation of the gut-homing receptor LPAM-1 on alloreactive CD8(+) T cells. Additionally, Nrf2 (-/-) donor CD8(+) T cells demonstrated intact cytotoxicity against allogeneic target cells. Tumor-bearing allo-HCT recipients of Nrf2 (-/-) donor T cells had overall improved survival as a result of preserved graft-versus-tumor activity and reduced GVHD activity. Our findings characterized a previously unrecognized role for Nrf2 in T-cell function, as well as revealed a novel therapeutic target to improve the outcomes of allo-HCT. |
