Altered expression of SIRPγ on the T-cells of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes patients could potentiate effector responses from T-cells

Factors regulating self-antigen directed immune-responses in autoimmunity are poorly understood. Signal regulatory protein gamma (SIRPγ) is a human T-cell specific protein with genetic variants associated with type 1 diabetes (T1D). SIRPγ’s function in the immune system remains unclear. We show that T1D and relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) subjects have significantly greater frequency of rs2281808 T genetic variant, that correlates with reduced SIRPγ-expression in T-cells. Importantly, reduced SIRPγ-expression in RRMS and T1D subjects was not restricted to T variant, suggesting SIRPγ-expression is also regulated by disease specific factors in autoimmunity. Interestingly, increased frequencies of SIRPγ(low) T-cells in RRMS and T1D positively correlated with proinflammatory molecules from T-cells. Finally, we show that SIRPγ(low) T-cells have enhanced pathogenecity in vivo in a GVHD model. These findings suggest that decreased-SIRPγ expression, either determined by genetic variants or through peripherally acquired processes, may have a mechanistic link to autoimmunity through induction of hyperactive T-cells.