Differential regulatory capacity of CD25+ T regulatory cells and preactivated CD25+ T regulatory cells on development, functional activation, and proliferation of Th2 cells

J Immunol. 2004 Jul 1;173(1):267-74. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.173.1.267.

Abstract

CD25+ T regulatory (Treg) cells play a central role regarding the maintenance of peripheral tolerance via suppression of autoaggressive CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and Th1 cells. In this study we demonstrate that CD25+ Treg cells can also suppress the differentiation of murine conventional CD4+ T cells toward Th2 cells in a contact-dependent manner. However, the cytokine production and proliferation of established Th2 cells could not be inhibited by freshly isolated CD25+ Treg cells, whereas a strong inhibition of differentiated Th2 cells by in vitro preactivated CD25+ Treg cells could be observed. Inhibition of both conventional CD4+ T cells and Th2 cells is accompanied by a strong enhancement of the expression of FoxP3 in the suppressed T cells. Hence, our study indicates that CD25+ Treg cells have a therapeutic potential for Th2-mediated diseases and suggests a novel mechanism of suppression mediated by the transcriptional repressor FoxP3.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / physiology
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Fluoresceins / metabolism
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Lymphocyte Activation*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2 / analysis*
  • Succinimides / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / physiology*
  • Th2 Cells / immunology
  • Th2 Cells / physiology*

Substances

  • 5-(6)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester
  • Cytokines
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Fluoresceins
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxp3 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2
  • Succinimides