CD4+ T Cell Help Confers a Cytotoxic T Cell Effector Program Including Coinhibitory Receptor Downregulation and Increased Tissue Invasiveness

Publication date: Available online 7 November 2017
Source:Immunity
Author(s): Tomasz Ahrends, Aldo Spanjaard, Bas Pilzecker, Nikolina Bąbała, Astrid Bovens, Yanling Xiao, Heinz Jacobs, Jannie Borst
CD4⁺ T cells optimize the cytotoxic T cell (CTL) response in magnitude and quality, by unknown molecular mechanisms. We here present the transcriptomic changes in CTLs resulting from CD4⁺ T cell help after anti-cancer vaccination or virus infection. The gene expression signatures revealed that CD4⁺ T cell help during priming optimized CTLs in expression of cytotoxic effector molecules and many other functions that ensured efficacy of CTLs throughout their life cycle. Key features included downregulation of PD-1 and other coinhibitory receptors that impede CTL activity, and increased motility and migration capacities. "Helped" CTLs acquired chemokine receptors that helped them reach their tumor target tissue and metalloprotease activity that enabled them to invade into tumor tissue. A very large part of the "help" program was instilled in CD8⁺ T cells via CD27 costimulation. The help program thus enhances specific CTL effector functions in response to vaccination or a virus infection.

Graphical abstract

Teaser

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are important to eliminate virus-infected cells and cancer cells from the body. Ahrends et al. reveal that CD4⁺ T cells help CTLs acquire their ability to perform this task through a specific gene program that involves the downregulation of coinhibitory receptors and increased motility and migration capacities.


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