CD40L modulates CD4+ T-cell activation through receptor for activated C kinase 1

Inhibition of the co-stimulatory ligand CD40L has shown beneficial effects in many experimental models of autoimmune disease and inflammation. Here, we show that CD40L deficiency in T cells in mice causes a reduction of CD4⁺ T-cell activation and specifically a strong reduction in IFN-γ-producing Th1 cells. In vitro, we could not reproduce this antigen presenting cell-dependent effects, but found that T-cell CD40L affects cell death and proliferation. We identified receptor of activated C kinase, the canonical PKC binding partner and known to drive proliferation and apoptosis, as a mediator of CD40L reverse signaling. Furthermore, we found that CD40L clustering stabilizes IFN-γ mediated Th1 polarization through STAT1, a known binding partner of receptor of activated C kinase. Together this highlights the importance of both CD40L forward and reverse signaling.