Fringe controls naïve CD4(+)T cells differentiation through modulating notch signaling in asthmatic rat models

PLoS One. 2012;7(10):e47288. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0047288. Epub 2012 Oct 10.

Abstract

The ability of Notch signaling to regulate T helper cell development and differentiation has been widely accepted. Fringe, O-fucose-β1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferases modulate Notch receptor expression and promote the Notch signaling pathway through receptor-ligand binding. In this study, we assayed the expression levels of three Fringe homologs in naive CD4(+)T cells in asthmatic rats. We found that Radical Fringe (Rfng) was highly expressed, whereas both Lunatic Fringe (Lfng) and Manic Fringe (Mfng) were expressed at low levels. Down-regulation of Rfng using siRNA, and overexpression of Lfng or Mfng enhanced Th1 subset lineages and diminished Th2 subset lineages. Notch signaling was more activated in asthmatic naïve CD4(+)T cells than in control cells, and Lfng, but not Mfng or Rfng, partly inhibited Notch signaling in asthmatic naïve CD4(+)T lymphocytes. Lfng overexpression resulted in significantly decreased Th2 cytokine production in asthma, which was the same effect as the GSI (γ-secretase inhibitor) treatment alone, but had an increased effect on Th1 cytokines than GSI treatment. Collectively, these data identify the essential role of Fringe modulating naïve CD4(+)T cells differentiation through Notch signaling. Lfng regulated Th2 cells differentiation via a Notch-dependent manner and Th1 cells differentiation via a Notch-independent manner. Fringe could be a therapeutic strategy for the management and prevention of allergic asthma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Asthma / immunology*
  • Asthma / metabolism
  • Asthma / pathology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Gene Silencing
  • Glycosyltransferases / genetics
  • Glycosyltransferases / metabolism
  • Glycosyltransferases / physiology
  • N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases / metabolism
  • N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases / physiology*
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Notch / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Th1 Cells / metabolism
  • Th2 Cells / metabolism

Substances

  • Receptors, Notch
  • Glycosyltransferases
  • Lfng protein, rat
  • N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30971302)(www.nsfc.gov.cn). The study was also supported by the Research and Innovation Project of Shanghai Education Committee (No. 09ZZ114). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.