Altered transcriptional profile of Smad4-deficient CTLs during infection with Listeria

TGFb is a pleiotropic cytokine which can exert its regulatory effects on differentiation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and alter their cell fate. Canonical TGFb signaling inhibits the formation of KLRG1+ effector cells and circulating memory cells while inducing the formation of resident memory cells. However, SMAD4 functions contradictory to TGFb where it is required for the formation of KLRG1+ effector cells and circulating memroy cells and actively inhibit the formation of resident memory cells. Using, RNA-Sequencing we identified that Smad4 alters the gene expression profile of pathogen-specific CTLs after intranasal infection with Listeria monocytogenes expressing chicken ovalbumin. Overall design: mRNA expressiong analysis of 2 samples: WT and Smad4 deficient early effector CD8 T cells (KLRG1lo, CD127lo, CD103lo). D8 Listeria monocytogenes infection