Modulation of asymmetric cell division as a mechanism to boost CD8 + T cell memory

• Published in: Science immunology Vol. 4; no. 34
• Main Authors: Borsa, Mariana, Barnstorf, Isabel, Baumann, Nicolas S, Pallmer, Katharina, Yermanos, Alexander, Gräbnitz, Fabienne, Barandun, Niculò, Hausmann, Annika, Sandu, Ioana, Barral, Yves, Oxenius, Annette
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 12.04.2019
• Subjects: Animals; Arenaviridae Infections - immunology; Arenaviridae Infections - therapy; Arenaviridae Infections - virology; Asymmetric Cell Division - drug effects; Asymmetric Cell Division - immunology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - drug effects; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Disease Models, Animal; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects; Gene Expression Regulation - immunology; Hematopoietic Stem Cells - drug effects; Hematopoietic Stem Cells - physiology; Humans; Immunologic Memory - drug effects; Immunotherapy, Adoptive - methods; Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus - immunology; Mice; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Signal Transduction - immunology; Sirolimus - pharmacology; Sirolimus - therapeutic use; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases - antagonists & inhibitors; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases - metabolism
• ISSN: 2470-9468
• DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.aav1730

Asymmetric partitioning of fate determinants is a mechanism that contributes to T cell differentiation. However, it remains unclear whether the ability of T cells to divide asymmetrically is influenced by their differentiation state, as well as whether enforcing asymmetric cell division (ACD) rates would have an impact on T cell differentiation and memory formation. Using the murine LCMV infection model, we established a correlation between cell stemness and the ability of CD8 T cells to undergo ACD. Transient mTOR inhibition was proven to increase ACD rates in naïve and memory cells and to install this ability in exhausted CD8 T cells. Functionally, enforced ACD correlated with increased memory potential, leading to more efficient recall response and viral control upon acute or chronic LCMV infection. Moreover, transient mTOR inhibition also increased ACD rates in human CD8 T cells. Transcriptional profiling revealed that progenies emerging from enforced ACD exhibited more pronounced early memory signatures, which functionally endowed these cells with better survival in the absence of antigen exposure and more robust homing to secondary lymphoid organs, providing critical access to survival niches. Our data provide important insights into how ACD can improve long-term survival and function of T cells and open new perspectives for vaccination and adoptive T cell transfer therapies.