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The transcription factors lymphoid enhancer binding factor 1 (LEF1) and transcription factor 7 (TCF7) (T cell factor-1 (TCF-1)) are downstream effectors of the WNT signaling pathway, which is a critical regulator of T cell development in the thymus. In this study, we show that LEF1 and TCF7 (TCF-1) are not only expressed in thymocytes, but also in mature T cells. Our data demonstrate that Ag encounter in vivo and engagement of the TCR or IL-15 receptor in vitro leads to the down-regulation of LEF1 and TCF7 (TCF-1) expression in human naive CD8 T cells. We further show that resting T cells preferentially express inhibitory LEF1 and TCF7 (TCF-1) isoforms and that T cell activation changes the isoform balance in favor of stimulatory TCF7 (TCF-1) isoforms. Altogether, our study suggests that proteins involved in the WNT signaling pathway not only regulate T cell development, but also peripheral T cell differentiation.

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Immunol

Publication Date

01/02/2006

Volume

176

Pages

1439 - 1446

Keywords

Antigens, CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Cell Differentiation, Cells, Cultured, Down-Regulation, Gene Expression Profiling, Humans, Interleukin-15, Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1, Protein Isoforms, Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, Resting Phase, Cell Cycle, Signal Transduction, T Cell Transcription Factor 1, T-Lymphocyte Subsets, Wnt Proteins