Trpm4 differentially regulates Th1 and Th2 function by altering calcium signaling and NFAT localization

Th cell subsets have unique calcium (Ca²⁺) signals when activated with identical stimuli. The regulation of these Ca²⁺ signals and their correlation to the biological function of each T cell subset remains unclear. Trpm4 is a Ca²⁺-activated cation channel that we found is expressed at higher levels in Th2 cells compared with Th1 cells. Inhibition of Trpm4 expression increased Ca²⁺ influx and oscillatory levels in Th2 cells and decreased influx and oscillations in Th1 cells. This inhibition of Trpm4 expression also significantly altered T cell cytokine production and motility. Our experiments revealed that decreasing Trpm4 levels divergently regulates nuclear localization of NFATc1. Consistent with this, gene profiling did not show Trpm4-dependent transcriptional regulation, and T-bet and GATA-3 levels remain identical. Thus, Trpm4 is expressed at different levels in Th cells and plays a distinctive role in T cell function by differentially regulating Ca²⁺ signaling and NFATc1 localization.