Regulation of A1 by OX40 contributes to CD8(+) T cell survival and anti-tumor activity. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • The TNFR family member OX40 (CD134) is critical for optimal clonal expansion and survival of T cells. However, the intracellular targets of OX40 in CD8 T cells are not fully understood. Here we show that A1, a Bcl-2 family protein, is regulated by OX40 in effector CD8 T cells. In contrast to wild-type T cells, OX40-deficient CD8 T cells failed to maintain A1 expression driven by antigen. Conversely, enforced OX40 stimulation promoted A1 expression. In both situations, the expression of A1 directly correlated with CD8 T cell survival. In addition, exogenous expression of A1 in OX40-deficient CD8 T cells reversed their survival defect in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, forced expression of A1 in CD8 T cells from OX40-deficient mice restored the ability of these T cells to suppress tumor growth in a murine model. These results indicate that OX40 signals regulate CD8 T cell survival at least in part through maintaining expression of the anti-apoptotic molecule A1, and provide new insight into the mechanism by which OX40 may impact anti-tumor immunity.

published proceedings

  • PLoS One

author list (cited authors)

  • Lei, F., Song, J., Haque, R., Haque, M., Xiong, X., Fang, D., Croft, M., & Song, J.

citation count

  • 18

complete list of authors

  • Lei, Fengyang||Song, Jianyong||Haque, Rizwanul||Haque, Mohammad||Xiong, Xiaofang||Fang, Deyu||Croft, Michael||Song, Jianxun

editor list (cited editors)

  • Poojary, V. K.

publication date

  • August 2013