Open AccessNon-random pairing of CD46 isoforms with skewing towards BC2 and C2 in activated and memory/effector T cells
Author(s) -
Aida S. Hansen,
Bettina Bundgaard,
Bjarne Kuno Møller,
Per Höllsberg
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
scientific reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.24
H-Index - 213
ISSN - 2045-2322
DOI - 10.1038/srep35406
Subject(s) - effector , pairing , microbiology and biotechnology , gene isoform , biology , computer science , computational biology , gene , genetics , physics , superconductivity , quantum mechanics
CD46 is a glycoprotein with important functions in innate and adaptive immune responses. Functionally different isoforms are generated by alternative splicing at exons 7–9 (BC and C isoforms) and exon 13 (CYT-1 and CYT-2 isoforms) giving rise to BC1, BC2, C1 and C2. We developed a novel real-time PCR assay that allows quantitative comparisons between these isoforms. Their relative frequency in CD4 + T cells from 100 donors revealed a distribution with high interpersonally variability. Importantly, the distribution between the isoforms was not random and although splicing favoured inclusion of exon 8 (BC isoforms), exclusion of exon 8 (C isoforms) was significantly linked to exclusion of exon 13 (CYT-2 isoforms). Despite inter-individual differences, CD4 + and CD8 + T cells, B cells, NK cells and monocytes expressed similar isoform profiles intra-individually. However, memory/effector CD4 + T cells had a significantly higher frequency of CYT-2 when compared with naïve CD4 + T cells. Likewise, in vitro activation of naïve and total CD4 + T cells increased the expression of CYT-2. This indicates that although splicing factors determine a certain expression profile in an individual, the profile can be modulated by external stimuli. This suggests a mechanism by which alterations in CD46 isoforms may temporarily regulate the immune response.