CD161 defines a transcriptional and functional phenotype across distinct human T cell lineages.

Journal article

The C-type lectin CD161 is expressed by a large proportion of human T lymphocytes of all lineages, including a population known as mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells. To understand whether different T cell subsets expressing CD161 have similar properties, we examined these populations in parallel using mass cytometry and mRNA microarray approaches. The analysis identified a conserved CD161++/MAIT cell transcriptional signature enriched in CD161+CD8+ T cells, which can be extended to CD161+ CD4+ and CD161+TCRγδ+ T cells. Furthermore, this led to the identification of a shared innate-like, TCR-independent response to interleukin (IL)-12 plus IL-18 by different CD161-expressing T cell populations. This response was independent of regulation by CD161, which acted as a costimulatory molecule in the context of T cell receptor stimulation. Expression of CD161 hence identifies a transcriptional and functional phenotype, shared across human T lymphocytes and independent of both T cell receptor (TCR) expression and cell lineage.

Authors: Fergusson, JR; Smith, K; Fleming, V; Rajoriya, N; Newell, E

• Publication status: Published
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Journal: Cell reports
• Volume: 9
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 1075-1088
• Publication date: 2014-11-01
• DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2014.09.045
• EISSN: 2211-1247
• ISSN: 2211-1247
• Language: English