Technical Advance: Fluorescent reporter reveals insights into eomesodermin biology in cytotoxic lymphocytes

Journal of Leukocyte Biology

Scott M. Gordon³  Elizabeth K. Bikoff¹  Steven L. Reiner ,³  E. John Wherry, , and²  Michael A. Paley²  Elizabeth J. Robertson¹ 

[1] Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom  Institute for Immunology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA;Departments of Microbiology and  Institute for Immunology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA;Medicine and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute and  Institute for Immunology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA;

关键词: CD8 T cells;    natural killer cells;    memory;    homeostasis;    differentiation;   

DOI  :  10.1189/jlb.0812400

学科分类：生理学

来源: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

【 摘 要 】

The T-box transcription factor Eomes is expressed in cytotoxic immune cells and plays an important role in development, maintenance, and function of these cell types. Identification and separation of cells with differential Eomes expression would allow for better understanding of the transcriptional program governing these cytotoxic lymphocytes. Here, we report the use of an Eomesgfp-targeted mouse allele that displays robust fidelity to Eomes protein expression in NK and T cells. Use of this reporter mouse revealed that Eomes expression in antiviral effector cells did not correlate with enhanced cytotoxicity but rather was associated with more efficient central memory differentiation. Weakening of reporter activity in Eomes-deficient CD8+ T cells revealed a critical role for Eomes protein in maintaining central memory cells that have activated the Eomes locus. Characterization of reporter activity in NK lineage cells also permitted identification of a novel intermediate of NK cell maturation. Thus, the murine Eomesgfp-targeted allele provides a novel opportunity to explore Eomes biology in cytotoxic lymphocytes.

【 授权许可】

Unknown