Tmem127-mediated immune receptor degradation regulates T cell homeostasis through the common gamma chain

Abstract

Maintenance of T cell population size, which is important for immune homeostasis, is controlled by interleukin-7 (IL-7) and low-affinity TCR/MHC interactions that provide limited survival cues. Using arrayed CRISPR screening of miR-17[~]92 targets, Bio-ID proximity labeling and proteomics we identified Tmem127 as an essential regulator of the T cell surface proteome. We validated interaction with the common gamma chain (IL-2R{gamma}) in a multi-protein complex. Tmem127 reduces IL-7 receptor surface expression to restrict homeostatic proliferation, thereby controlling naive and central memory T cell population sizes. Tmem127 germline knockout (KO) mice display splenomegaly, accelerated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and Tmem127-deficient bone marrow displays a competitive advantage over wildtype cells. Thus, we identified Tmem127 as an important regulator of the common gamma chain and immune homeostasis.