DGK α and ζ Activities Control TH1 and TH17 Cell Differentiation
Jialong Yang, Hongxia Wang, Jinhai Xie, Lei Li, Jinli Wang, Chi‐Keung Wan, Xiao‐Ping Zhong
Abstract
CD4 + T helper (T H ) cells are critical for protective adaptive immunity against pathogens, and they also contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. How T H differentiation is regulated by the TCR's downstream signaling is still poorly understood. We describe here that diacylglycerol kinases (DGKs), which are enzymes that convert diacylglycerol (DAG) to phosphatidic acid, exert differential effects on T H cell differentiation in a DGK dosage-dependent manner. A deficiency of either DGK or selectively impaired T H 1 differentiation without obviously affecting T H 2 and T H 17 differentiation. However, simultaneous ablation of both DGK and promoted T H 1 and T H 17 differentiation in vitro and in vivo, leading to exacerbated airway inflammation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that dysregulation of T H 17 differentiation of DGK and double-deficient CD4 + T cells was, at least in part, caused by increased mTOR complex 1/S6K1 signaling.