Mitochondrial Ca2+ and membrane potential, an alternative pathway for Interleukin 6 to regulate CD4 cell effector function

• DOI: 10.7554/elife.06376
• Publication Date: 2015-05-14T11:31:02Z
• Authors: Rui Yang; Dario Lirussi; Tina M Thornton; Dawn M Jelley-Gibbs; Sean A Diehl; Laure K Case; Muniswamy Madesh; Douglas J Taatjes; Cory Teuscher; Laura Haynes; Mercedes Rincón
• Keywords: Cell function

IL-6 plays an important role in determining the fate of effector CD4 cells and cytokines that these produce. Here we identify a novel molecular mechanism by which regulates cell function. We show IL-6-dependent signal facilitates formation mitochondrial respiratory chain supercomplexes to sustain high membrane potential late during activation cells. Mitochondrial hyperpolarization caused is uncoupled from production ATP oxidative phosphorylation. However, it raise levels Ca(2+) Increased presence are used prolong Il4 Il21 expression Thus, effect on alternative pathway function could contribute pathogenesis inflammatory diseases.