DGK α and ζ Activities Control TH1 and TH17 Cell Differentiation

CD4(+) T helper (T-H) cells are critical for protective adaptive immunity against pathogens, and they also contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. How T-H differentiation is regulated by the TCR's downstream signaling is still poorly understood. We describe here that diacylglycerol kinases (DGKs), which are enzymes that convert diacylglycerol (DAG) to phosphatidic acid, exert differential effects on T-H cell differentiation in a DGK dosage-dependent manner. A deficiency of either DGK alpha or zeta selectively impaired T(H)1 differentiation without obviously affecting T(H)2 and T(H)17 differentiation. However, simultaneous ablation of both DGK alpha and zeta promoted T(H)1 and T(H)17 differentiation in vitro and in vivo, leading to exacerbated airway inflammation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that dysregulation of T(H)17 differentiation of DGK alpha and zeta double-deficient CD4(+) T cells was, at least in part, caused by increased mTOR complex 1/S6K1 signaling.