Sustained exposure to bacterial antigen induces interferon-γ-dependent T cell receptor ζ down-regulation and impaired T cell function

Noemí Bronstein-Sitton, Leonor Cohen-Daniel, Ilan Vaknin, Analía V. Ezernitchi, Benny Leshem, Amal Halabi, Yael Houri-Haddad, Eugenia Greenbaum, Zichria Zakay-Rones, Lior Shapira, Michal Baniyash*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

108 Scopus citations

Abstract

T cell antigen receptor ζ chain down-regulation and impaired in vitro T cell function have been described in cancer and autoimmune and infectious diseases. However, the immunological basis for this phenomenon is unknown. Sustained exposure to antigen and chronic systemic inflammation, factors shared by the various pathologies, might account for this phenomenon. We developed an in vivo experimental system that mimics these conditions and show that sustained exposure of mice to bacterial antigens was sufficient to induce T cell antigen receptor ζ chain down-regulation and impair T cell function, provided an interferon-γ-dependent T helper type 1 immune response developed. This indicates ζ chain down-regulation could be a physiological response that attenuates an exacerbated immune response. However, it can act as a 'double-edged sword', impairing immune responses to chronic diseases.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)957-964
Number of pages8
JournalNature Immunology
Volume4
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Oct 2003

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank N. Rosenheimer-Goudsmid for help with the FACS analysis. Supported by the Society of Research Associates of the Lautenberg Center, the Concern Foundation of Los Angeles, the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, and the Joseph and Matilda Melnick Fund.

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Sustained exposure to bacterial antigen induces interferon-γ-dependent T cell receptor ζ down-regulation and impaired T cell function'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this