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Published on: December 22, 2020
Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 Is a Determinant of CD4 T Cell-Airway Smooth Muscle Cell Communication through
Soroor Farahnak1,2, Toby K McGovern1, Rachael Kim1
1Meakins-Christie Laboratories, Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec H4A 3J1, Canada; and.
Abstract:
Activated CD4 T cells connect to airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) in vitro via lymphocyte-derived membrane conduits (LMCs) structurally similar to membrane nanotubes with unknown intercellular signals triggering their formation. We examined the structure and function of CD4 T cell-derived LMCs, and we established a role for ASMC-derived basic fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2b) and FGF receptor (FGFR)1 in LMC formation. Blocking FGF2b's synthesis and FGFR1 function reduced LMC formation. Mitochondrial flux from ASMCs to T cells was partially FGF2b and FGFR1 dependent. LMC formation by CD4 T cells and mitochondrial transfer from ASMCs was increased in the presence of asthmatic ASMCs that expressed more mRNA for FGF2b compared with normal ASMCs. These observations identify ASMC-derived FGF2b as a factor needed for LMC formation by CD4 T cells, affecting intercellular communication.
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