Calcium-mediated shaping of naive CD4 T cell phenotype and function

Continuous contact with self-major histocompatibility complex ligands is essential for the survival of naive CD4 T cells. We have previously shown that the resulting tonic TCR signaling also influences their fate upon activation by increasing their ability to differentiate into induced regulatory T cells. To decipher the molecular mechanisms governing this process, microarray data comparing highly (Ly-6C-) and lowly (Ly-6C+) Self-reactive naive CD4 T cells were obtained. CD4 T cells from LNs of C57BL/6 Foxp3-GFP mice were purified by using Dynabeads Untouched Mouse CD4 Cells Kit (Invitrogen). Then, Ly-6C- and Ly-6C+ CD4 TN cells were flow-cytometry sorted as CD4+ CD8α- TCRβ+ GFP- CD25- CD44-/lo cells using a FACS-ARIA3 flow cytometer.