Attenuation of AMPK signaling by ROQUIN promotes T follicular helper cell formation
Blagih, J; Ellyard, JI; Sweet, RA; Vinuesa, CG; Nieto, PF; Athanasopoulos, V; Pratama, A; Hawley, N; Goodnow, CC; Babon, JJ; Parish, IA; Lee-Young, RS; Martin, J; Febbraio, MA; Cappello, JY; Jones, RG; Kershaw, NJ; Ramiscal, RR
Abstract
T follicular helper cells (Tfh) are critical for the longevity and quality of antibody-mediated protection against infection. Yet few signaling pathways have been identified to be unique solely to Tfh development. ROQUIN is a post-transcriptional repressor of T cells, acting through its ROQ domain to destabilize mRNA targets important for Th1, Th17, and Tfh biology. Here, we report that ROQUIN has a paradoxical function on Tfh differentiation mediated by its RING domain: mice with a T cell-specific deletion of the ROQUIN RING domain have unchanged Th1, Th2, Th17, and Tregs during a T-dependent response but show a profoundly defective antigen-specific Tfh compartment. ROQUIN RING signaling directly antagonized the catalytic α1 subunit of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a central stress-responsive regulator of cellular metabolism and mTOR signaling, which is known to facilitate T-dependent humoral immunity. We therefore unexpectedly uncover a ROQUIN-AMPK metabolic signaling nexus essential for selectively promoting Tfh responses.
| Journal | ELIFE |
| ISSN | 2050-084X |
| Published | 23 Oct 2015 |
| Volume | 4 |
| Issue | |
| Pages | e08698 |
| DOI | 10.7554/eLife.08698 |
| Type | Journal Article |
| Sponsorship |
NHMRC: 1021168, 1052573
|