Abstract
Activated CD8+ T cells play a critical role in host defense against viruses, intracellular microbes, and tumors. It is not clear if a key regulatory transcription factor unites the effector functions of CD8+ T cells. We now show that Eomesodermin (Eomes), a paralogue of T-bet, is induced in effector CD8+ T cells in vitro and in vivo. Ectopic expression of Eomes was sufficient to invoke attributes of effector CD8+ T cells, including interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), perforin, and granzyme B. Loss-of-function analysis suggests Eomes may also be necessary for full effector differentiation of CD8+ T cells. We suggest that Eomesodermin is likely to complement the actions of T-bet and act as a key regulatory gene in the development of cell-mediated immunity.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Arenaviridae Infections / immunology
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Base Sequence
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CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
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CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / physiology
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Cell Differentiation
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Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
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Gene Expression Regulation
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Granzymes
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Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
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Lymphocyte Activation
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Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus / immunology
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Membrane Glycoproteins / biosynthesis
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Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Perforin
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Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins
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RNA, Messenger / genetics
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RNA, Messenger / metabolism
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Serine Endopeptidases / biosynthesis
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Serine Endopeptidases / genetics
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T-Box Domain Proteins / chemistry
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T-Box Domain Proteins / genetics
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T-Box Domain Proteins / physiology*
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Th2 Cells / immunology
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Th2 Cells / physiology
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Transcription Factors / chemistry
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Transcription Factors / genetics
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Transcription Factors / physiology
Substances
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Eomes protein, mouse
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Membrane Glycoproteins
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Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins
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RNA, Messenger
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T-Box Domain Proteins
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T-box transcription factor TBX21
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Transcription Factors
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Perforin
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Interferon-gamma
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Granzymes
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Gzmb protein, mouse
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Serine Endopeptidases