| First Author | Kang M | Year | 2021 |
| Journal | Int J Mol Sci | Volume | 22 |
| Issue | 5 | PubMed ID | 33803441 |
| Mgi Jnum | J:342691 | Mgi Id | MGI:6714517 |
| Doi | 10.3390/ijms22052775 | Citation | Kang M, et al. (2021) Deletion of Irf4 in T Cells Suppressed Autoimmune Uveitis and Dysregulated Transcriptional Programs Linked to CD4(+) T Cell Differentiation and Metabolism. Int J Mol Sci 22(5) |
| abstractText | Interferon regulatory factor-4 (IRF4) and IRF8 regulate differentiation, growth and functions of lymphoid and myeloid cells. Targeted deletion of irf8 in T cells (CD4-IRF8KO) has been shown to exacerbate colitis and experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU), a mouse model of human uveitis. We therefore generated mice lacking irf4 in T cells (CD4-IRF4KO) and investigated whether expression of IRF4 by T cells is also required for regulating T cells that suppress autoimmune diseases. Surprisingly, we found that CD4-IRF4KO mice are resistant to EAU. Suppression of EAU derived in part from inhibiting pathogenic responses of Th17 cells while inducing expansion of regulatory lymphocytes that secrete IL-10 and/or IL-35 in the eye and peripheral lymphoid tissues. Furthermore, CD4-IRF4KO T cells exhibit alterations in cell metabolism and are defective in the expression of two Ikaros zinc-finger (IKZF) transcription factors (Ikaros, Aiolos) that are required for lymphocyte differentiation, metabolism and cell-fate decisions. Thus, synergistic effects of IRF4 and IkZFs might induce metabolic reprogramming of differentiating lymphocytes and thereby dynamically regulate relative abundance of T and B lymphocyte subsets that mediate immunopathogenic mechanisms during uveitis. Moreover, the diametrically opposite effects of IRF4 and IRF8 during EAU suggests that intrinsic function of IRF4 in T cells might be activating proinflammatory responses while IRF8 promotes expansion of immune-suppressive mechanisms. |
