p38α regulates cytokine-induced IFNγ secretion via the Mnk1/eIF4E pathway in Th1 cells

TY - JOUR

T1 - p38α regulates cytokine-induced IFNγ secretion via the Mnk1/eIF4E pathway in Th1 cells

AU - Salvador-Bernáldez, María

AU - Mateus, Sara B.

AU - Del Barco Barrantes, Iván

AU - Arthur, Simon C.

AU - Martínez-A, Carlos

AU - Nebreda, Angel R.

AU - Salvador, Jesús M.

N1 - No funding info

PY - 2017/6/14

Y1 - 2017/6/14

N2 - The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is involved in the regulation of immune and inflammatory processes. We used p38α-conditional, p38β-deficient, and p38α/β double-null mouse models to address the role of these two p38 MAPK in CD4(+) T cells, and found that p38α deficiency causes these cells to hyperproliferate. Our studies indicate that both p38α and p38β are dispensable for T helper cell type 1 (Th1) differentiation but, by controlling IFNγ and TNFα production, are critical for normal Th1 effector function. We found that both p38α and p38β modulate T cell receptor-induced IFNγ and TNFα production, whereas only p38α regulates cytokine-induced IFNγ production. The lack of p38α and p38β did not affect transcription and mRNA stability of Ifng. However, the absence of p38α in Th1 cells resulted in a decreased MNK1 phosphorylation after cytokine activation, and MNK1 inhibition blocked IFNγ production. Our results indicate that p38α regulates IFNγ secretion through the activation of the MNK1/eIF4E pathway of translation initiation and identify specific functions for p38α and p38β in T cell proliferation.Immunology and Cell Biology accepted article preview online, 14 June 2017. doi:10.1038/icb.2017.51.

AB - The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is involved in the regulation of immune and inflammatory processes. We used p38α-conditional, p38β-deficient, and p38α/β double-null mouse models to address the role of these two p38 MAPK in CD4(+) T cells, and found that p38α deficiency causes these cells to hyperproliferate. Our studies indicate that both p38α and p38β are dispensable for T helper cell type 1 (Th1) differentiation but, by controlling IFNγ and TNFα production, are critical for normal Th1 effector function. We found that both p38α and p38β modulate T cell receptor-induced IFNγ and TNFα production, whereas only p38α regulates cytokine-induced IFNγ production. The lack of p38α and p38β did not affect transcription and mRNA stability of Ifng. However, the absence of p38α in Th1 cells resulted in a decreased MNK1 phosphorylation after cytokine activation, and MNK1 inhibition blocked IFNγ production. Our results indicate that p38α regulates IFNγ secretion through the activation of the MNK1/eIF4E pathway of translation initiation and identify specific functions for p38α and p38β in T cell proliferation.Immunology and Cell Biology accepted article preview online, 14 June 2017. doi:10.1038/icb.2017.51.

KW - Journal article

U2 - 10.1038/icb.2017.51

DO - 10.1038/icb.2017.51

M3 - Article

C2 - 28611474

SN - 0818-9641

VL - 95

SP - 814

EP - 823

JO - Immunology and Cell Biology

JF - Immunology and Cell Biology

ER -