IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-The bicarbonate transporter SLC4A2 orchestrates T cell development and function

The bicarbonate transporter SLC4A2 orchestrates T cell development and function

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Alex Concepcion presented research on the bicarbonate transporter SLC4A2/AE2, a membrane protein that helps regulate intracellular pH. He explained that AE2 is important in epithelial cells and T cells, and its loss is linked to primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), an autoimmune liver disease. His lab created conditional AE2 knockout mice to determine whether the effects are cell intrinsic. These mice showed early T-cell depletion, followed by later expansion of CD8 memory T cells, skewed T-cell receptor repertoires, and PBC-like features including bile duct inflammation and salivary gland infiltration. RNA-seq showed increased mTOR, glycolysis, IL-2, and inflammatory signaling, along with altered AOMS expression. The data suggest AE2 sets a threshold for T-cell receptor signaling during thymic selection; without AE2, cells become overly activated and more likely to drive autoimmunity.

Meta Tag

Date April 16, 2026 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Room 104C

Session New Insights into the Role of Ion Channels and Transporters in Immunity, Sponsored by the Society of General Physiologists

Speaker Axel Concepcion

Track Innate Immune Responses and Host Defense: Molecular Mechanisms (INM)

Year 2026

Keywords

SLC4A2/AE2

primary biliary cholangitis

conditional knockout mice

T-cell receptor signaling

autoimmunity

mTOR signaling

April 16, 2026 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

104C

New Insights into the Role of Ion Channels and Transporters in Immunity, Sponsored by the Society of General Physiologists

Axel Concepcion

Innate Immune Responses and Host Defense: Molecular Mechanisms (INM)

2026