Signaling through the T cell receptor (TCR) regulates T cell homeostasis and effector func-tions. However, a full accounting of the TCR-coupled signaling networks and how theirinterplay determines specific functional outcomes remains elusive. Of particular interestare efforts over the last years to elucidate distinctive features of TCR signaling in regu-latory T cells (Treg) that may account for some of their unique functional attributes ascompared to conventional T (Tconv) cells. In this issue of the European Journal of Immunol-ogy, van Ham et al. [Eur. J. Immunol. 2017. 47: 2043–2058] employed differential phos-phoproteomics to identify a set of 11 proteins mainly linked to cytoskeletal organizationand molecular transport that discriminate between TCR signaling in the respective cellsubset. They further linked these differences to cell subset-specific alterations in thespatio-temporal organization of signaling pathways at immune synapse (IS) in Treg ver-sus T conv. These data support the idea that these proteins may act as a molecular“twist” element driving Treg cell-specific responses by affecting cytoskeletal dynamicsand IS formation. Taken together, these findings may facilitate the development of novelimmunomodulatory agents that exploit differences in TCR signaling between Treg andTconv cells
A simple twist of phosphate: Immunological synapse formation and T cell receptor signaling outcome in regulatory T cells
De Palma Raffaele
2017
Abstract
Signaling through the T cell receptor (TCR) regulates T cell homeostasis and effector func-tions. However, a full accounting of the TCR-coupled signaling networks and how theirinterplay determines specific functional outcomes remains elusive. Of particular interestare efforts over the last years to elucidate distinctive features of TCR signaling in regu-latory T cells (Treg) that may account for some of their unique functional attributes ascompared to conventional T (Tconv) cells. In this issue of the European Journal of Immunol-ogy, van Ham et al. [Eur. J. Immunol. 2017. 47: 2043–2058] employed differential phos-phoproteomics to identify a set of 11 proteins mainly linked to cytoskeletal organizationand molecular transport that discriminate between TCR signaling in the respective cellsubset. They further linked these differences to cell subset-specific alterations in thespatio-temporal organization of signaling pathways at immune synapse (IS) in Treg ver-sus T conv. These data support the idea that these proteins may act as a molecular“twist” element driving Treg cell-specific responses by affecting cytoskeletal dynamicsand IS formation. Taken together, these findings may facilitate the development of novelimmunomodulatory agents that exploit differences in TCR signaling between Treg andTconv cellsI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
