Functional Analysis of Immune Signature Genes in Th1* Memory Cells Links ISOC1 and Pyrimidine Metabolism to IFN-γ and IL-17 Production
Yulia Kushnareva, Ian T. Mathews, Alexander Y. Andreyev, Gökmen Altay, Cecilia S. Lindestam Arlehamn, Pandurangan Vijayanand, Roland Nilsson, Mohit Jain, Alessandro Sette, Bjoern Peters, Sonia Sharma
Abstract
Abstract CCR6+CXCR3+CCR4−CD4+ memory T cells, termed Th1*, are important for long-term immunity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Th1* cells express a unique set of lineage-specific transcription factors characteristic of both Th1 and Th17 cells and display distinct gene expression profiles compared with other CD4+ T cell subsets. To examine molecules and signaling pathways important for the effector function of Th1* cells, we performed loss-of-function screening of genes selectively enriched in the Th1* subset. The genetic screen yielded candidates whose depletion significantly impaired TCR-induced IFN-γ production. These included genes previously linked to IFN-γ or M. tuberculosis susceptibility and novel candidates, such as ISOC1, encoding a metabolic enzyme of unknown function in mammalian cells. ISOC1-depleted T cells, which produced less IFN-γ and IL-17, displayed defects in oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis and impairment of pyrimidine metabolic pathway. Supplementation with extracellular pyrimidines rescued both bioenergetics and IFN-γ production in ISOC1-deficient T cells, indicating that pyrimidine metabolism is a key driver of effector functions in CD4+ T cells and Th1* cells. Results provide new insights into the immune-stimulatory function of ISOC1 as well as the particular metabolic requirements of human memory T cells, providing a novel resource for understanding long-term T cell–driven responses.