Control of Effector CD8 super + T Cell Function by the Transcription Factor Eomesodermin

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 301; no. 5647; pp. 1041 - 1043
• Main Authors: Pearce, E L, Mullen, A C, Martins, G A, Krawczyk, C M, Hutchins, A S, Zediak, V P, Banica, M, DiCioccio, C B, Gross, D A, Mao, C.-A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 07.11.2003
• ISSN: 0036-8075

Activated CD8 super + T cells play a critical role in host defense against viruses, intracellular microbes, and tumors. It is not clear if a key regulatory transcription factor unites the effector functions of CD8 super + T cells. We now show that Eomesodermin (Eomes), a paralogue of T-bet, is induced in effector CD8 super + T cells in vitro and in vivo. Ectopic expression of Eomes was sufficient to invoke attributes of effector CD8 super + T cells, including interferon- gamma (IFN- gamma ), perforin, and granzyme B. Loss-of-function analysis suggests Eomes may also be necessary for full effector differentiation of CD8 super + T cells. We suggest that Eomesodermin is likely to complement the actions of T-bet and act as a key regulatory gene in the development of cell-mediated immunity.