PGC-1α in human CD4+T cell subsets

Abstract

CD4+T lymphocyte pool is heterogeneous in nature consisting of distinct subsets. The functional activity of each subset is highly influenced by how its energy metabolism is controlled. In naïve, central memory, effector memory, and TEMRA CD4+T cells received from healthy volunteers aged 29-42 years we evaluated the level of the major cell energy metabolism regulator: transcriptional coactivator PGC-1α. PGC-1α was shown to be expressed in all CD4+T cells. Its level in central memory, effector memory, and TEMRA cells was higher than that in naïve cells for both conventional and regulatory CD4+T lymphocytes. Moreover, its level was found to be higher in conventional when compared with regulatory CD4+T cells. Our findings suggest that regulatory and conventional CD4+T cells rely on PGC-1α to a different extent. Apparently, PGC-1α is an important but not the only factor influencing the functional state of mitochondria in regulatory CD4+T lymphocytes.