Year: 2023
Type: editorial
Abstract: TGF-b and T cell biologyTGF-b is a versatile cytokine that plays a crucial role in immune regulation and maintaining overall homeostasis within the immune system (1).This multifaceted impact of TGF-b on T cells can be attributed to the cellular context, which means it might vary depending on the cell type and the state of activation or differentiation of the cells.Its actions can appear to be both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory, depending on the context in which it is acting and the specific cell types involved.This complexity is essential for orchestrating appropriate immune responses while preventing excessive inflammation and immune-related disorders.This Research Topic presents reviews or original research articles that decorticate TGF-b effects on T cell biology and their physiological as well as pathological consequences.TGF-beta (TGF-b) is a widely recognized factor that plays a crucial role in determining the tissue residency of CD8 T cells (2).The review of Ma and Zhang sheds light on how TGFb intricately regulates the lymphoid tissue residency of TCF1+ exhausted T cells.These TCF1 + exhausted T cells are categorized as a progenitor or stem-like subset responsible for sustaining the entire pool of exhausted T cells (3).This particular subset constitutes a crucial target of checkpoint blockade immunotherapies, underlining their clinical significance.As these TCF1+ cells persist, they further differentiate, giving rise to transitional subsets and eventually to terminally exhausted T cells.The review contributes to a deeper understanding of how TGF-b governs the localization and differentiation of TCF1+ exhausted T cells within lymphoid tissues, highlighting its significant role in shaping the dynamics of exhausted T cell populations.TGF-b exerts its influence at multiple levels to determine the spatial trajectory of T cells.As highlighted in this review, TGF-b plays a pivotal role in the differentiation of TCF1 + stem-like cells, directing them toward residency in secondary lymphoid organs.In particular, although TGF-b promotes the generation of terminally differentiated exhausted T cells at later stage, it appears that TGF-b represses of the differentiation of TCF1+ stem like cells by in part enforcing their lymphoid tissue residency (4).This review exposes the dualistic impact of TGF-b on the fate of T cells.This intricate dichotomy likely arises from TGF-b's ability to intervene at various stages of CD8 T cell differentiation, yielding distinct outcomes.When TGF-b acts upon TCF1+ stem-like cells, it fosters their residency potential while curtailing their propensity for terminal exhaustion.Conversely, at a later developmental stage, TGF-b could tilt the balance in favor of driving CD8 T cells toward terminal Frontiers in Immunology frontiersin.
Source: Frontiers in Immunology
Authors: Saïdi Soudja, Nu Zhang
Language: English
Topic: TGF-β signaling in diseases
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,295
OpenAlex ID: W4386461626