Mutation of an L-Type Calcium Channel Gene Leads to T Lymphocyte Dysfunction

oleh: Franz Fenninger, Franz Fenninger, Franz Fenninger, Franz Fenninger, Franz Fenninger, Jeffrey Han, Shawna R. Stanwood, Shawna R. Stanwood, Shawna R. Stanwood, Shawna R. Stanwood, Shawna R. Stanwood, Lilian L. Nohara, Lilian L. Nohara, Lilian L. Nohara, Hitesh Arora, Hitesh Arora, Hitesh Arora, Hitesh Arora, Hitesh Arora, Kyung Bok Choi, Kyung Bok Choi, Kyung Bok Choi, Kyung Bok Choi, Lonna Munro, Lonna Munro, Lonna Munro, Lonna Munro, Cheryl G. Pfeifer, Cheryl G. Pfeifer, Cheryl G. Pfeifer, Cheryl G. Pfeifer, Iryna Shanina, Marc S. Horwitz, Wilfred A. Jefferies, Wilfred A. Jefferies, Wilfred A. Jefferies, Wilfred A. Jefferies, Wilfred A. Jefferies, Wilfred A. Jefferies, Wilfred A. Jefferies

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: Frontiers Media S.A. 2019-10-01

Deskripsi

Calcium (Ca2+) is a vital secondary messenger in T lymphocytes regulating a vast array of important events including maturation, homeostasis, activation, and apoptosis and can enter the cell through CRAC, TRP, and CaV channels. Here we describe a mutation in the L-type Ca2+ channel CaV1.4 leading to T lymphocyte dysfunction, including several hallmarks of immunological exhaustion. CaV1.4-deficient mice exhibited an expansion of central and effector memory T lymphocytes, and an upregulation of inhibitory receptors on several T cell subsets. Moreover, the sustained elevated levels of activation markers on B lymphocytes suggest that they are in a chronic state of activation. Functionally, T lymphocytes exhibited a reduced store-operated Ca2+ flux compared to wild-type controls. Finally, modifying environmental conditions by herpes virus infection exacerbated the dysfunctional immune phenotype of the CaV1.4-deficient mice. This is the first example where the mutation of a CaV channel leads to T lymphocyte dysfunction, including the upregulation of several inhibitory receptors, hallmarks of T cell exhaustion, and establishes the physiological importance of CaV channel signaling in maintaining a nimble immune system.