The non-coding RNA miR-17~92 is a central mediator of T cell activation

Abstract

T cell activation is paramount for productive adaptive immune responses. CD28 is a key clinically targeted immunoregulatory receptor because it provides the prototypical costimulatory signal required for T cell activation. Therefore, a precise understanding of the molecular consequences of CD28 costimulation has direct therapeutic relevance. Here, we uncover that the microRNA cluster miR-17~92 is part of the molecular program triggered by CD28 costimulation and hence T cell activation. Combining genetics, transcriptomics, bioinformatics and biochemical miRNA:mRNA interaction maps we demonstrate that transgenic miR-17~92 can cell-intrinsically largely overcome defects caused by CD28-deficiency. miR-17~92 promotes transcription of a proinflammatory gene signature by enhancing the calcineurin/NFAT pathway. miR-17~92 binds to and represses a network of genes including several negative regulators of T cell activation. Finally, CD28-deficient T cells exhibit derepressed miR-17~92 target genes during activation, demonstrating that this non-coding RNA is required to shape the transcriptome. Thus, we propose that miR-17~92 constitutes a central mediator for T cell activation, integrating signals by the TCR and CD28 costimulation. In this model miR-17~92 facilitates T cell activation by dampening the breaks that prevent T cell activation.