By contrast, on Ag-experienced CD8+ T cells we found that whereas IFN-α enhances the effector functions, it decreases fold cell expansion. No differences were found between IFN-α2b and IFN-α5 subtypes, suggesting redundancy in the system. The magnitude of the stimuli and

the inputs from different stimulatory/inhibitory receptors are critical parameters for the outcome of the T-cell response. Thus, the need of choosing a fixed dose of stimuli, a single costimulatory signal and few time points for the array analyses provides a limited and static picture of the transcriptional changes induced on human T cells. Despite this limitation, our array data provided a baseline definition of the IFN-α transcriptional effects on human CD8+ Selleck Sirolimus T cells and will form the basis for further and more detailed studies. The results of the transcriptional analysis of human CD8+ T cells stimulated with IFN-α alone agree with previous studies of IFN-α stimulation of unfractionated PBL 18, 19. The overall similarity suggests that IFN-α imprints a common transcriptional

signature on the peripheral blood immune cell populations. Despite induction of relevant genes for effector functions, human CD8+ T cells treated only with IFN-α experienced no sign of activation. However IFN-α-derived signals synergize with signals elicited by CD3/CD28-triggering and promote the acquisition of effector functions on human CD8+ T cells. The biological meaning of the regulation of all these genes relevant for CD8+ T-cell functions by IFN-α itself

is still unknown. One possibility is that pre-exposure to IFN-α induces mRNA PTK6 that facilitate T-cell activation Angiogenesis inhibitor upon an eventual Ag encounter. Transcriptional analyses performed in human CD8+CD45RO− cells stimulated with Beads and either IFN-α2b and/or IFN-α5 show that, as a signal-3 cytokine, IFN-α regulates outstanding genes involved in the overall activation of T cells. Among these genes we found IL2. IL-2 is an important cytokine for survival, clonal expansion and differentiation of T cells 20. The fact that IFN-α also promotes the surface expression of CD25 strengthens the idea that IFN-α may promote the CD8+ T-cell response, at least in part, by inducing additional cytokines that could further stimulate CD8+ T cells in an autocrine manner. Importantly, the chief transcriptional signature of IFN-α, as a third signal, encompasses the up-regulation of transcripts involved in effector functions (IFNG, GZB and TRAIL) as well as production of chemokines (CXCL10 and CXCL11). A similar transcriptional signature has been found in OT1 cells stimulated in vitro with artificial DC and IFN-α 14, suggesting that IFN-α may promote the conversion of CD8+ T cells not only into highly effector cells but also into efficient chemotactic attractants of additional effector cells. This transcriptional effect was substantiated at the protein level and verified by functional assays.