The p values were determined by using nonparametric Mann-Whitney U-test

nes cell phenotype, but extend these to CJ-023423 site polarized CD4+ T cell subsets. Indeed, bona fide Th1, Th2 as well as Th17 cells can be converted into cytolytic cells, loosing initial properties to adopt a seemingly uniform phenotype dominated by acquisition of cytolytic properties. Activation by epitopes containing a CxxC motif seem therefore sufficient enough to override the transcriptome and epigenetic signatures associated with polarized effector cells. In keeping with this, Lee et al have shown that even polarized cells keep bivalent genetic markers, which may allow cells to switch to an alternative phenotype when appropriate conditions are provided. The concept of CD4+ T cell plasticity covers polarized CD4+ T cells in addition to naive cells. Th17 cells have attracted much attention due to their involvement in many pathologies. We therefore examined in further details whether acquisition of cytolytic properties was paralleled with loss of pathogenic properties such as production of IL-17. Under polarizing conditions, even when such conditions were maintained during activation with CxxC motif containing epitopes, we observed a gradual loss of IL-17 production. These data were obtained with both TCR transgenic cells and with polyclonal CD4+ cell populations, establishing their physiological relevance. They also extend findings reported recently on human cells and loss of a Th17 phenotype by increasing the strength of TCR stimulation. In fact, our data establish as a general rule that increased synapse strength induces a cytolytic phenotype, whatever the initial status, naive or polarized CD4+ T cells. It remains to be determined whether alternative subsets of effector T cells, such as Th9 cells and Tfh can also be directly converted into cytolytic T cells. APC were induced into apoptosis by a mechanism requiring cell-cell contact. An obvious candidate for such an activity is the Fas-FasL pathway, and we observed up to 80% inhibition of apoptosis using an anti-FasL antibody. Yet, cCD4+ T cells express surface FasL and the release of FasL requires the presence of a metalloprotease. In the light of conflicting observations on the passage of soluble FasL trough a transwell membrane, we used an inhibitor of metalloprotease to discard a significant involvement of soluble FasL into the apoptosis process. Another mechanism by which apoptosis can be induced is by exocytosis through the synapse of cytotoxic granules, which contain soluble FasL and serine proteases including granzymes. We observed that both perforin and granzyme B were increased at transcription level in cCD4+ T cells. Perforin and GZB synergize facilitating the penetration of GZB. However, addition of EGTA, an inhibitor of perforin, did not reduce apoptosis. Granzymes can penetrate target cells in the absence of perforin though the precise mechanism is not fully understood. However, addition of Z-AAD-fmk, an inhibitor of GZB did not prevent induction of apoptosis. This inhibitor is toxic for cells when used at higher concentrations and the demonstration that GZB does not participate in apoptosis induction therefore awaits further investigations. Involvement of the Fas-FasL pathway does not preclude the participation of GZB, the two mechanisms being convergent, as FasL activates caspase 8, itself an activator of caspase 3, which is directly activated by GZB. Noteworthily, induction of APC apoptosis was observed with dendritic as well as with B cells, suggesting that both primary and s