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Immunological history governs human stem cell memory CD4 heterogeneity via the Wnt signaling pathway

  • Hassen Kared
  • , Shu Wen Tan
  • , Mai Chan Lau
  • , Marion Chevrier
  • , Crystal Tan
  • , Wilson How
  • , Glenn Wong
  • , Marie Strickland
  • , Benoit Malleret
  • , Amanda Amoah
  • , Karolina Pilipow
  • , Veronica Zanon
  • , Naomi Mc Govern
  • , Josephine Lum
  • , Jin Miao Chen
  • , Bernett Lee
  • , Maria Carolina Florian
  • , Hartmut Geiger
  • , Florent Ginhoux
  • , Ezequiel Ruiz-Mateos
  • Tamas Fulop, Reena Rajasuriar, Adeeba Kamarulzaman, Tze Pin Ng, Enrico Lugli, Anis Larbi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

The diversity of the naïve T cell repertoire drives the replenishment potential and capacity of memory T cells to respond to immune challenges. Attrition of the immune system is associated with an increased prevalence of pathologies in aged individuals, but whether stem cell memory T lymphocytes (TSCM) contribute to such attrition is still unclear. Using single cells RNA sequencing and high-dimensional flow cytometry, we demonstrate that TSCM heterogeneity results from differential engagement of Wnt signaling. In humans, aging is associated with the coupled loss of Wnt/β-catenin signature in CD4 TSCM and systemic increase in the levels of Dickkopf-related protein 1, a natural inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Functional assays support recent thymic emigrants as the precursors of CD4 TSCM. Our data thus hint that reversing TSCM defects by metabolic targeting of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway may be a viable approach to restore and preserve immune homeostasis in the context of immunological history.

Original languageEnglish
Article number821
Number of pages17
JournalNature Communications
Volume11
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Feb 2020
Externally publishedYes

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