T cell receptor-induced alternative splicing of MALT1 affects T cell signaling and effector cell differentiation

MALT1 is an essential component of the T cell receptor (TCR)-induced T cell activation pathway. Two alternative splice isoforms of MALT1 (ISO A and ISO B) are conserved within vertebrae, which differ in the presence of exon 7 (MALT1 ISO A). We show by isoform-specific reconstitution of MALT1-deficient CD4-positive T cells that MALT1 ISO A mediates additional functions in T cell activation. Transcriptome-wide analysis revealed a distinct subset of genes specifically upregulated in presence of exon 7. Total RNA from sorted T cell was obtained from 4 animals, unstimulated, stimulated, mock stimulated (reference)