A negative role for the interleukin-2-inducible T-cell kinase (ITK) in human Foxp3+ TREG differentiation

PLoS One. 2019 Apr 25;14(4):e0215963. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215963. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

The Tec kinases ITK (interleukin-2-inducible T-cell kinase) and RLK (resting lymphocyte kinase) are critical components of the proximal TCR/CD3 signal transduction machinery, and data in mice suggest that ITK negatively modulates regulatory T cell (TREG) differentiation. However, whether Tec kinases modulate TREG development and/or function in human T cells remains unknown. Using a novel self-delivery siRNA platform (sdRNA), we found that ITK knockdown in human primary naïve peripheral blood CD4 T cells increased Foxp3+ expression under both TREG and T helper priming conditions. TREG differentiated under ITK knockdown conditions exhibited enhanced expression of the co-inhibitory receptor PD-1 and were suppressive in a T cell proliferation assay. ITK knockdown decreased IL-17A production in T cells primed under Th17 conditions and promoted Th1 differentiation. Lastly, a dual ITK/RLK Tec kinase inhibitor did not induce Foxp3 in CD4 T cells, but conversely abrogated Foxp3 expression induced by ITK knockdown. Our data suggest that targeting ITK in human T cells may be an effective approach to boost TREG in the context of autoimmune diseases, but concomitant inhibition of other Tec family kinases may negate this effect.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Differentiation*
  • Cell Polarity
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / metabolism
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / cytology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / enzymology*
  • Th1 Cells / cytology
  • Th17 Cells / cytology
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects

Substances

  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxp3 protein, mouse
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • emt protein-tyrosine kinase

Grants and funding

Funded by Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA. The funder provided support in the form of salaries for authors PM, RAE, JP, AD, JRF, and JRM, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section.