6533b7dbfe1ef96bd1270a8a

RESEARCH PRODUCT

MAP kinase p38 and its relation to T cell anergy and suppressor function of regulatory T cells

Kerstin SteinbrinkHenric S. Adler

subject

Clonal AnergyCell cycle checkpointClonal anergyRegulatory T cellT cellCell CycleCell BiologyBiologyCell cycleT-Lymphocytes Regulatoryp38 Mitogen-Activated Protein KinasesCell biologymedicine.anatomical_structuremedicineAnimalsHumansCytotoxic T cellIL-2 receptorAntigen-presenting cellMolecular BiologyCyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27Developmental Biology

description

Diverse regulatory T cell populations (Treg) are important for the control of self tolerance and immune homeostasis. These include naturally occurring CD4+CD25+ Treg (nTreg) and induced Treg (iTreg). Tolerogenic dendritic cells, modulated by IL-10, are able to convert peripheral T cells into iTreg. These are anergic and characterized by a G(1) cell cycle arrest, dependent on elevated levels of the cdk inhibitor p27(Kip1). Novel data revealed a distinct pattern of MAP kinase activation in iTreg different from clonal T cell anergy, with enhanced activation of the p38-MAPKAP-K2/3 pathway. p38 is involved in cell cycle control and its activity is a prerequisite for the induction and maintenance of the anergic state in iTreg. Inhibition of p38 leads to down regulation of p27(Kip1), cell cycle progress and loss of regulatory T cell function. Here, we discuss these data in light of the role of p38 and p27(Kip1) in T cell activation, anergy induction and cell cycle control.

https://doi.org/10.4161/cc.7.2.5312