Activation changes the spectrum but not the diversity of genes expressed by T cells

Citation
Tk. Teague et al., Activation changes the spectrum but not the diversity of genes expressed by T cells, P NAS US, 96(22), 1999, pp. 12691-12696
Citations number
36
Categorie Soggetti
Multidisciplinary
Journal title
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
ISSN journal
00278424 → ACNP
Volume
96
Issue
22
Year of publication
1999
Pages
12691 - 12696
Database
ISI
SICI code
0027-8424(19991026)96:22<12691:ACTSBN>2.0.ZU;2-A
Abstract
During activation T cells are thought to change their patterns of gene expr ession dramatically. To find out whether this is true for T cells activated in animals, the patterns of genes expressed in resting T cells and T cells 8 and 48 hr after activation were examined by using Affymetrix gene arrays . Gene arrays gave accurate comparisons of gene expression in the different cell types because the expression of genes known to vary during activation changed as expected. Of the approximately 6,300 genes assessed by the arra ys, about one-third were expressed to appreciable extents in any of the T c ells tested. Thus, resting T cells express a surprisingly large diversity o f genes. The patterns of gene expression changed considerably within 8 hr o f T cell activation but returned to a disposition more like that of resting T cells within 48 hr of exposure to antigen. Not unexpectedly, the activat ed T cells expressed genes associated with cell division at higher levels t han resting T cells. The resting T cells expressed a number of cytokine rec eptor genes and some genes thought to suppress cell division, suggesting th at the state of resting T cells is not a passive failure to respond to exta nt external stimuli.