Title
Immune Suppressive Activity and Lack of T Helper Differentiation Are Differentially Regulated in Natural Regulatory T Cells
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-15-2009
Abstract
The mechanism for controlling Th cytokine expression in natural regulatory T (nTreg) cells is unclear. Here, it was found that under polarizing conditions Foxp3 did not affect Th1 cell, partially inhibited Th17 cell, but greatly inhibited Th2 cell differentiation of conventional CD4 T cells. Under the polarizing conditions, nTreg cells failed to differentiate into Th2 and Th17 cells, but differentiated into IFN-γ-producing cells. Such Foxp3-transduced CD4 T cells and nTreg cells expressed T-bet, GATA-3, or retinoic acid-related orphan receptor (ROR)γt, and retroviral GATA-3 and RORγt could not induce Th2 and Th17 differentiation from nTreg cells. However, regardless of their cytokine profiles, the Foxp3-transduced CD4 T cells and nTreg cells remained immune suppressive. These results suggested that it is possible to convert pathogenic Th cells to Treg-like cells for therapeutic application. In conclusion, our studies show that Foxp3 is sufficient for immune suppression, whereas the inhibition of cytokine expression requires additional mechanisms.
Recommended Citation
Zeng, Wei-ping, Chang, Chawnshang, Lai, Jiann-jyh. Immune Suppressive Activity and Lack of T Helper Differentiation Are Differentially Regulated in Natural Regulatory T Cells The Journal of Immunology September 15, 2009 vol. 183 no. 6, 3583-3590.
Comments
This article first appeared in the September 15, 2009 issue of The Journal of Immunology, the member magazine of the The American Association of Immunologists, and is reprinted with permission.
Copyright © 2009 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.