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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

High-throughput Quantitative Real-time RT-PCR Assay for Determining Expression Profiles of Types I and III Interferon Subtypes
10:00

High-throughput Quantitative Real-time RT-PCR Assay for Determining Expression Profiles of Types I and III Interferon Subtypes

Published on: March 24, 2015

Type I interferon is the primary regulator of inducible Ly-6C expression on T cells

A J Schlueter1, A M Krieg, P de Vries

  • 1Department of Pathology, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242-1181, USA. annette-schlueter@uiowa.edu

Journal of Interferon & Cytokine Research : the Official Journal of the International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research
|September 18, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Ly-6C expression on T cells is primarily induced by interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), not T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation. This cytokine-driven upregulation is transient and not linked to T cell memory development.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cellular Immunology
  • T cell biology

Background:

  • Ly-6C is a proposed marker for memory CD8+ T cells.
  • Ly-6C expression is reportedly increased by T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation and proinflammatory cytokines.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the distinct roles of TCR engagement and proinflammatory cytokines in inducing Ly-6C expression on T cells.
  • To identify the primary cytokine responsible for Ly-6C induction.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro cytokine stimulation assays on T cells.
  • In vivo studies using CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) and staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) to induce cytokines and TCR activation, respectively.
  • Analysis of Ly-6C expression in interferon-alpha receptor-deficient (IFN-alphaRI(-/-)) mice.

Main Results:

  • Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) was identified as a key cytokine inducing Ly-6C on both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.
  • In vivo, proinflammatory cytokines transiently upregulated Ly-6C on T cells without TCR stimulation.
  • TCR stimulation by SEB caused transient Ly-6C upregulation but not long-term changes.
  • CpG ODN failed to induce Ly-6C in IFN-alphaRI(-/-) mice, confirming IFN-alpha's role.

Conclusions:

  • Inducible Ly-6C expression on T cells is predominantly driven by environmental IFN-alpha.
  • Ly-6C upregulation is not directly correlated with T cell memory formation.

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