Egr2 and 3 control inflammation, but maintain homeostasis, of PD-1<sup>high</sup>memory phenotype CD4 T cells
Alistair L. J. Symonds, Wei Zheng, Tizong Miao, Haiyu Wang, Tieshang Wang, Ruth Kiome, Xiujuan Hou, Suling Li, Ping Wang
Abstract
The transcription factors Egr2 and 3 are essential for controlling inflammatory autoimmune responses of memory phenotype (MP) CD4 T cells. However, the mechanism is still unclear. We have now found that the Egr2 + subset (PD-1 high MP) of MP CD4 T cells expresses high levels of checkpoint molecules (PD-1 and Lag3) and also markers of effector T cells (CXCR3 and ICAM-1). Egr2/3 are not required for PD-1 high MP CD4 cell development but mediate a unique transcriptional programme that effectively controls their inflammatory responses, while promoting homeostatic proliferation and adaptive responses. Egr2 negative PD-1 high MP CD4 T cells are impaired in homeostatic proliferation and adaptive responses against viral infection but display inflammatory responses to innate stimulation such as IL-12. PD-1 high MP CD4 T cells have recently been implicated in rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis, and we have now found that Egr2 expression is reduced in PD-1 high MP CD4 T cells from patients with active rheumatoid arthritis compared with healthy controls. These findings demonstrate that Egr2/3 control the inflammatory responses of PD-1 high MP CD4 T cells and maintain their adaptive immune fitness.