REGULATED GLYCOSYLATION CONTROLS THE FATE OF CD4 T CELLS

MENDEZ HUERGO S; DALOTTO-MORENO T; FAREZ M; MARIÑO KV; CORREALE J; TOSCANO MA; RABINOVICH GA

Mar del Plata

Congreso; LXII REUNIÓN ANUAL Sociedad Argentina de Inmunología; 2014

Upon differentiation into a specific subset, CD4+ T cells undergo major changes in their glycosylation profile. We have previously demonstrated that Th1, Th17, Th2 and recently regulatory T cells (Tregs) present differential glycosylation patterns on their cell surface, leading to differential susceptibilities to galectin1 (Gal1) induced apoptosis. Here we investigated the impact of glycosylation in the physiology of T cells, focusing on regulatory T cells (Tregs). First we analyzed by mass spectometry the N-glycosylation patterns of in vitro induced Tregs (iTregs) and non-polarized activated T cells (Tact). iTregs present lower levels of high complex N-glycans but higher levels of a2,6-linked sialic acid (a2,6SA). As expected, Tact cells, but not iTregs or natural Tregs (nTregs), were susceptible to Gal1-induced apoptosis (p