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New Treg and its mechanism of suppression

Context

Evidence is accumulating regarding the existence and mechanism of suppression of regulatory T cells in the fields of both autoimmunity and transplantation. Interest is growing in the possibility that such T cells could be expanded and harnessed to antigen-specific tolerance for treatment or prevention of autoimmunity and transplant rejection. A previous set of investigations showed that naive CD8+ ovalbumin (OVA)-specific TCR-transgenic T cells underwent slow deletion by a Fas-dependent mechanism after adoptive transfer into transgenic mice expressing OVA in the pancreas (RIP-mOVA mice). This occurred in lymph nodes draining the pancreas, and was presumed to result from migration of tolerogenic dendritic cells bearing OVA, from pancreas to draining lymph nodes (see Additional information [1-3]). Despite careful searching, the antigen presenting cell (APC) has not been found.

Significant findings

The T cells were mature transgenic-TCR+ CD4- CD8- (antigen-specific double-negative, DN). When cloned, they grew in the presence of IL-2, IL-4 and Ld+ APCs, and suppressed proliferation and function of transgenic-TCR+CD8+ T cells. They could be purified from spleens of lymphocyte-treated and naive mice.

The phenotype of the clone was NK1.1- CD28- CD44- CD30+. The mechanism of suppression was shown to require cell contact between DN and CD8+ T cells. The DN cells were found to kill TCR+ CD8+ T cells in a Fas-dependent manner. This could occur through acquisition of the presenting molecule, Ld, by the DN T cells from other APC, turning DN T cells into 'killer APC'.

Comments

The paper identifies a novel subset of DN regulatory T cells, likely to be present in normal lymphoid organs but which expand on exposure to antigen (donor-specific T cell infusion). This paper raises the fascinating possibility that these DN T cells can acquire MHC class I/peptide from local or migratory APCs, for generation of 'killer APC'. It will be interesting to see whether sucha mechanism can also be invoked for self-reactive CD4+ T cells, as T cells are also able to acquire MHC class II/self peptide complexes (see Additional information [4]).

Regulatory DN T cells are distinct from so-called Tr1 cells that can be induced in vitro by repetitive presentaion of antigen in the presence of IL-10. CD4+ Tr1 clones demonstrate a differentiated memory T cell phenotype, proliferate poorly, secrete IL-10, but little IL-2 or IL-4, and , when antigen-activated inhibit development of clitis iduced in SCID mice by transfer of CD45RBbright CD4+ T cells (see Additional information [5]). This suppression is dependent on IL-10 and TGF?.

Methods

adoptive transfer, TCR transgenic mice, MLR (mixed lymphocyte response)

Additional information

References

  1. 1.

    Kurts C, Kosaka H, Carbone FR, Miller JFAP, Heath WR: Class I-restricted Cross-Presentation of Exogenous Self-Antigens Leads to Deletion of Autoreactive CD8+ T Cells. J Exp Med 1997, 186:239-245.

  2. 2.

    Kurts C, Carbone FR, Barnden M, Blanas E, Allison J, Heath WR, Miller JFAP: CD4+ T cell help impairs CD8+ T cell deletion induced by cross-presentation of self-antigens and favours autoimmunity. J Exp Med 1997, 186:2057-2062.

  1. 3.

    Kurts C, Heath WR, Kosaka H, Miller JF, Carbone FR: The peripheral deletion of autoreactive CD8+ T cells induced by cross-presentation of self-antigens involves signaling through CD95 (Fas, Apo-1). J Exp Med 1998,188 1998, 415-420.

  1. 4.

    Patel DM, Arnold PY, White GA, Nardella JP, Mannie MD: Class II MHC/peptide complexes are released from APC and are acquired by T cell responders during specific antigen recognition. J Immunol 1999, 163:5201-5210.

  1. 5.

    Groux H, O'Garra A, Bigler M, Rouleau M, Antonenko S, De Vries JE, Roncarolo MG: A CD4+ T-cell subset inhibits antigen-specific T-cell responses and prevents colitis. Nature 1997, 389:737-742.

  1. 6.

    Groux H, Powrie F: Regulatory T cells and inflammatory bowel disease. Immunol Today 1999, 20:442-445.

References

  1. Zhang ZX, Yang L, Young KJ, DuTemple B, Zhang L: Identification of a previously unknown antigen-specific regulatory T cell and its mechanism of suppression. Nat Med. 2000, 6: 782-789.

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Thomas, R. New Treg and its mechanism of suppression. Arthritis Res Ther 3, 66848 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1186/ar-2000-66848

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/ar-2000-66848

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