RNA-Seq analysis of early transcriptional responses to activation in the leukaemic Jurkat E6.1 T cell line
Felce SL., Farnie G., Dustin ML., Felce JH.
<ns4:p><ns4:bold>Background:</ns4:bold> The leukaemia-derived Jurkat E6.1 cell line has been used as a model T cell in the study of many aspects of T cell biology, most notably activation in response to T cell receptor (TCR) engagement.</ns4:p><ns4:p> <ns4:bold>Methods:</ns4:bold> We present whole-transcriptome RNA-Sequencing data for Jurkat E6.1 cells in the resting state and two hours post-activation via TCR and CD28. We compare early transcriptional responses in the presence and absence of the chemokines CXCL12 and CCL19, and perform a basic comparison between observed transcriptional responses in Jurkat E6.1 cells and those in primary human T cells using publicly deposited data.</ns4:p><ns4:p> <ns4:bold>Results:</ns4:bold> Jurkat E6.1 cells have many of the hallmarks of standard T cell transcriptional responses to activation, but lack most of the depth of responses in primary cells.</ns4:p><ns4:p> <ns4:bold>Conclusions:</ns4:bold> These data indicate that Jurkat E6.1 cells hence represent only a highly simplified model of early T cell transcriptional responses.</ns4:p>