Regulation of the terminal maturation of iNKT cells by mediator complex subunit 23

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06372-1
• Publication Date: 2018-09-18T10:21:21Z
• Authors: Yu Xu; Yang Sun; Hao Shen; Yuling Dai; Haifeng Liu; Ronghong Li; Hongdao Zhang; Ligang Wu; Xiaoyan Zhu; Xiaolong Liu
• Keywords: Mediator

Invariant natural killer T cells (iNKT cells) are a specific subset of that recognize glycolipid antigens and upon activation rapidly exert effector functions. This unique function is established during iNKT cell development; the detailed mechanisms this process, however, remain to be elucidated. Here authors show deletion mediator subunit Med23 in CD4+CD8+ double positive (DP) thymocytes completely blocks development at stage 2. dysregulation accompanied by bias expression genes related regulation transcription metabolism, functional impairment including loss NK characteristics, reduced ability secrete cytokines attenuated recruitment capacity activation. Moreover, Med23-deficient exhibit impaired anti-tumor activity. Our study identifies as an essential transcriptional regulator controls differentiation terminal maturation.