Single cell analysis of kynurenine and System L amino acid transport in T cells

Linda V. Sinclair (), Damien Neyens, George Ramsay, Peter M. Taylor and Doreen A. Cantrell ()
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Linda V. Sinclair: University of Dundee
Damien Neyens: University of Dundee
George Ramsay: Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
Peter M. Taylor: University of Dundee
Doreen A. Cantrell: University of Dundee

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract The tryptophan metabolite kynurenine has critical immunomodulatory properties and can function as an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) ligand. Here we show that the ability of T cells to transport kynurenine is restricted to cells activated by the T-cell antigen receptor or proinflammatory cytokines. Kynurenine is transported across the T-cell membrane by the System L transporter SLC7A5. Accordingly, the ability of kynurenine to activate the AHR is restricted to T cells that express SLC7A5. We use the fluorescence spectral properties of kynurenine to develop a flow cytometry-based assay for rapid, sensitive and quantitative measurement of the kynurenine transport capacity in a single cell. Our findings provide a method to assess the susceptibility of T cells to kynurenine, and a sensitive single cell assay to monitor System L amino acid transport.

Date: 2018
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-04366-7

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04366-7

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