Immunity to fungal infections is mediated by cells of the innate and adaptive immune system. Activation of immune cells requires Ca2+ influx through the Ca2+ channel ORAI1, which is activated by stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1). Th17 cells are essential for immunity to C. albicans infection and require Ca2+ influx for expression of IL-17A and other Th17 cytokines. In mice, deletion of STIM1 and thus Ca2+ influx in all immune cells enhanced susceptibility to mucosal C. albicans infection, whereas T cell-specific deletion of STIM1 impaired immunity to systemic C. albicans infection. STIM1 deletion in CD4 T cells had different effects on gene expression programs in pathogenic (proinflammatory) and non-pathogenic Th17 cells. STIM1 deletion in non-pathogenic Th17 cells, which are required for antifungal immunity, compromised the expression of genes in several metabolic pathways including Foxo and HIF-1a signaling as well as the TCA cycle and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Consequently, STIM1 deficient non-pathogenic Th17 cells had impaired glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration. By contrast, STIM1 deletion in pathogenic Th17 cells showed only attenuated mitochondrial function but normal glycolysis. SOURCE: Stefan Feske (feskes01@nyumc.org) -  New York University School of Medicine

Pluto Bioinformatics

GSE149162: STIM1-mediated gene expression in non-pathogenic and pathogenic CD4+ Th17 cells