iScience (Nov 2021)

The role of protease-activated receptor 1 signaling in CD8 T cell effector functions

  • Hui Chen,
  • Mindy Smith,
  • Jasmin Herz,
  • Tong Li,
  • Rebecca Hasley,
  • Cecile Le Saout,
  • Ziang Zhu,
  • Jie Cheng,
  • Andres Gronda,
  • José A. Martina,
  • Pablo M. Irusta,
  • Tatiana Karpova,
  • Dorian B. McGavern,
  • Marta Catalfamo

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 24, no. 11
p. 103387

Abstract

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Summary: CD8 T cells are essential for adaptive immunity against viral infections. Protease activated receptor 1 (PAR1) is expressed by CD8 T cells; however, its role in T cell effector function is not well defined. Here we show that in human CD8 T cells, PAR1 stimulation accelerates calcium mobilization. Furthermore, PAR1 is involved in cytotoxic T cell function by facilitating granule trafficking via actin polymerization and repositioning of the microtubule organizing center (MTOC) toward the immunological synapse. In vivo, PAR1−/− mice have reduced cytokine-producing T cells in response to a lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection and fail to efficiently control the virus. Specific deletion of PAR1 in LCMV GP33-specific CD8 T cells results in reduced expansion and diminished effector function. These data demonstrate that PAR1 plays a role in T cell activation and function, and this pathway could represent a new therapeutic strategy to modulate CD8 T cell effector function.

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