Extracellular nucleotides are pleiotropic regulators of mammalian cell function. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) released from CD4(+) helper T cells upon stimulation of the T cell receptor (TCR) contributes in an autocrine manner to the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling through purinergic P2X receptors. Increased expression of p2rx7, which encodes the purinergic receptor P2X7, is part of the transcriptional signature of immunosuppressive CD4(+) CD25(+) regulatory T cells (T(regs)). Here, we show that the activation of P2X7 by ATP inhibits the suppressive potential and stability of T(regs). The inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) increased ATP synthesis and P2X7-mediated signaling in T(regs), which induced their conversion to IL-17-secreting T helper 17 (T(H)17) effector cells in vivo. Moreover, pharmacological antagonism of P2X receptors promoted the cell-autonomous conversion of naive CD4(+) T cells into T(regs) after TCR stimulation. Thus, ATP acts as an autocrine factor that integrates stimuli from the micro-environment and cellular energetics to tune the developmental and immunosuppressive program of the T cell in adaptive immune responses.
ATP inhibits the generation and function of regulatory T cells through the activation of purinergic P2X receptors / U. Schenk, M. Frascoli, M. Proietti, R. Geffers, E. Traggiai, J. Buer, C. Ricordi, A.M. Westendorf, F.M. Grassi. - In: SCIENCE SIGNALING. - ISSN 1937-9145. - 4:162(2011).
Titolo: | ATP inhibits the generation and function of regulatory T cells through the activation of purinergic P2X receptors |
Autori: | SCHENK, URSULA (Primo) GRASSI, FABIO MARIA (Ultimo) |
Settore Scientifico Disciplinare: | Settore BIO/13 - Biologia Applicata Settore BIO/14 - Farmacologia |
Data di pubblicazione: | 2011 |
Rivista: | |
Tipologia: | Article (author) |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/scisignal.2001270 |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 01 - Articolo su periodico |