The TNF Receptor Superfamily-NF-κB Axis Is Critical to Maintain Effector Regulatory T Cells in Lymphoid and Non-lymphoid Tissues

Publication date: Available online 7 September 2017
Source:Cell Reports
Author(s): Ajithkumar Vasanthakumar, Yang Liao, Peggy Teh, Maria F. Pascutti, Anna E. Oja, Alexandra L. Garnham, Renee Gloury, Jessica C. Tempany, Tom Sidwell, Eloy Cuadrado, Paul Tuijnenburg, Taco W. Kuijpers, Najoua Lalaoui, Lisa A. Mielke, Vanessa L. Bryant, Philip D. Hodgkin, John Silke, Gordon K. Smyth, Martijn A. Nolte, Wei Shi, Axel Kallies
After exiting the thymus, Foxp3⁺ regulatory T (Treg) cells undergo further differentiation in the periphery, resulting in the generation of mature, fully suppressive effector (e)Treg cells in a process dependent on TCR signaling and the transcription factor IRF4. Here, we show that tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily (TNFRSF) signaling plays a crucial role in the development and maintenance of eTreg cells. TNFRSF signaling activated the NF-κB transcription factor RelA, which was required to maintain eTreg cells in lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues, including RORγt⁺ Treg cells in the small intestine. In response to TNFRSF signaling, RelA regulated basic cellular processes, including cell survival and proliferation, but was dispensable for IRF4 expression or DNA binding, indicating that both pathways operated independently. Importantly, mutations in the RelA binding partner NF-κB1 compromised eTreg cells in humans, suggesting that the TNFRSF-NF-κB axis was required in a non-redundant manner to maintain eTreg cells in mice and humans.

Graphical abstract

Teaser

Effector regulatory T (eTreg) cells are potent repressors of immune pathology in lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues. Vasanthakumar et al. have identified a signaling nexus, composed of TNFRSF and NF-κB/RelA, which operates independently of TCR-induced transcription factor IRF4 and is required for the differentiation and maintenance of eTreg cells.


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