T Cell-Specific Inactivation of the PI3K p110α Catalytic Subunit: Effect in T Cell Differentiation and Antigen-Specific Responses

Class IA PI3K p110δ and p110α subunits participate in TCR and costimulatory receptor signals involved in T cell-mediated immunity, but the role of p110α is not completely understood. Here, we analyzed a mouse model of the Cre-dependent functional inactivation of p110α (kinase dead) in T lymphocytes (p110αKD-T, KD). KD mice showed increased cellularity in thymus and spleen and altered T cell differentiation with increased number of CD4 CD8 DP thymocytes, enhanced proportion of CD4 SP lymphocytes linked to altered apoptosis, lower Treg cells, and increased AKT and ERK phosphorylation in activated thymocytes. In the spleen, the percentages of CD4 Treg cells and CD8 naive lymphocytes were reduced. In vitro, the differentiation of CD4 cells from p110αKD-T mice showed lower induced Treg (iTreg) cell yield or IL-10 secretion. Moreover, Tfh cell yield, IL-21 secretion, and PI3-K-dependent elongation were hampered, as was Erk and Akt activation. Th1 or Th17 differentiation in vitro was not altered. The immunization of p110α-KD-T mice with KLH protein antigen induced an enhanced proportion of CXCR5 CD4 cells and germinal center B cells, increased ICOS expression in CD4 cells, or IFN-γ secretion upon antigen re-activation in vitro. However, anti-KLH antibody responses in serum was similar in WT or p110α KD mice. These data show that T cell-specific p110α inactivation alters T cell differentiation and function.