The serine/threonine protein phosphatase 2A controls autoimmunity

Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is the first serine/threonine phosphatase recognized to contribute to human and murine lupus immunopathology. PP2A expression in SLE is controlled both epigenetically and genetically, and it is increased in patients with SLE, which contributes to decreased IL-2 production, decreased CD3ζ and increased FcRγ expression on the surface of T cells, increased CREMα expression, hypomethylation of genes associated with SLE pathogenesis, and increased IL-17 production. β regulatory subunit of PP2A regulates IL-2 deprivation-induced T cell death and is decreased in SLE patients. A mouse overexpressing PP2A_c in T cells displays peripheral granulocytosis, elevated IL-17 production, and develops glomerulonephritis when challenged. A mouse which lacks PP2A_c only in regulatory T cells develops severe autoimmunity and multiorgan inflammation because of loss of restraint on mTORC1 and inability of Foxp3+ cells to regulate conventional T cells. Targeting PP2A in T cell subsets may be therapeutic for SLE and other autoimmune diseases.