scholarly journals Conversion of Peripheral CD4+CD25− Naive T Cells to CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cells by TGF-β Induction of Transcription Factor Foxp3

2003 ◽  
Vol 198 (12) ◽  
pp. 1875-1886 ◽  
Author(s):  
WanJun Chen ◽  
Wenwen Jin ◽  
Neil Hardegen ◽  
Ke-jian Lei ◽  
Li Li ◽  
...  

CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) are instrumental in the maintenance of immunological tolerance. One critical question is whether Treg can only be generated in the thymus or can differentiate from peripheral CD4+CD25− naive T cells. In this paper, we present novel evidence that conversion of naive peripheral CD4+CD25− T cells into anergic/suppressor cells that are CD25+, CD45RB−/low and intracellular CTLA-4+ can be achieved through costimulation with T cell receptors (TCRs) and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β). Although transcription factor Foxp3 has been shown recently to be associated with the development of Treg, the physiological inducers for Foxp3 gene expression remain a mystery. TGF-β induced Foxp3 gene expression in TCR-challenged CD4+CD25− naive T cells, which mediated their transition toward a regulatory T cell phenotype with potent immunosuppressive potential. These converted anergic/suppressor cells are not only unresponsive to TCR stimulation and produce neither T helper cell 1 nor T helper cell 2 cytokines but they also express TGF-β and inhibit normal T cell proliferation in vitro. More importantly, in an ovalbumin peptide TCR transgenic adoptive transfer model, TGF-β–converted transgenic CD4+CD25+ suppressor cells proliferated in response to immunization and inhibited antigen-specific naive CD4+ T cell expansion in vivo. Finally, in a murine asthma model, coadministration of these TGF-β–induced suppressor T cells prevented house dust mite–induced allergic pathogenesis in lungs.

1999 ◽  
Vol 190 (2) ◽  
pp. 229-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akiko Iwasaki ◽  
Brian Lee Kelsall

Orally administered antigens often generate immune responses that are distinct from those injected systemically. The role of antigen-presenting cells in determining the type of T helper cell response induced at mucosal versus systemic sites is unclear. Here we examine the phenotypic and functional differences between dendritic cells (DCs) freshly isolated from Peyer's patches (PP) and spleen (SP). Surface phenotypic analysis of CD11c+ DC populations revealed that PP DCs expressed higher levels of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules, but similar levels of costimulatory molecules and adhesion molecules compared with SP DCs. Freshly isolated, flow cytometrically sorted 98–100% pure CD11c+ DC populations from PP and SP were compared for their ability to stimulate naive T cells. First, PP DCs were found to be much more potent in stimulating allogeneic T cell proliferation compared with SP DCs. Second, by using naive T cells from ovalbumin peptide–specific T cell receptor transgenic mice, these ex vivo DCs derived from PP, but not from SP, were found to prime for the production of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 (Th2 cytokines). In addition, PP DCs were found to prime T cells for the production of much lower levels of interferon (IFN)-γ (Th1) compared with SP DCs. The presence of neutralizing antibody against IL-10 in the priming culture dramatically enhanced IFN-γ production by T cells stimulated with PP DCs. Furthermore, stimulation of freshly isolated PP DCs via the CD40 molecule resulted in secretion of high levels of IL-10, whereas the same stimulus induced no IL-10 secretion from SP DCs. These results suggest that DCs residing in different tissues are capable of inducing distinct immune responses and that this may be related to the distinct cytokines produced by the DCs from these tissues.


1994 ◽  
Vol 180 (1) ◽  
pp. 223-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
E E Murphy ◽  
G Terres ◽  
S E Macatonia ◽  
C S Hsieh ◽  
J Mattson ◽  
...  

We have previously shown that dendritic cells isolated after overnight culture, which can express B7 and are potent stimulators of naive T cell proliferation, are relatively poor at inducing the proliferation of a panel of murine T helper 1 (Th1) clones. Maximal stimulation of Th1 clones was achieved using unseparated splenic antigen presenting cells (APC). An explanation for these findings is provided in the present study where we show that FcR+ L cells transfected with B7 stimulate minimal proliferation of Th1 clones in response to anti-CD3 antibodies, in contrast to induction of significant proliferation of naive T cells. However, addition of interleukin 12 (IL-12) to cultures of Th1 cells stimulated with anti-CD3 and FcR+ B7 transfectants resulted in a very pronounced increase in proliferation and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) production. Exogenous IL-12 did not affect the B7-induced proliferation of naive T cells. This showed that whereas costimulatory signals delivered via B7-CD28 interaction are sufficient to induce significant proliferation of naive T cells activated through occupancy of the T cell receptor, Th1 T cell clones require cooperative costimulation by B7 and IL-12. This costimulation was shown to be specific by inhibition of proliferation and IFN-gamma production using chimeric soluble cytolytic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4-human IgG1Fc (CTLA4-Ig) and anti-IL-12 antibodies. Furthermore, the significant antigen specific proliferation and IFN-gamma production by Th1 clones observed when splenocytes were used as APC was almost completely abrogated using CTLA4-Ig and anti-IL-12 antibodies. Thus two costimulatory signals, B7 and IL-12, account for the ability of splenic APC to induce maximal stimulation of Th1 clones. IL-10 downregulates the expression of IL-12 by IFN-gamma-stimulated macrophages and this may account largely for t the ability of IL-10 to inhibit APC function of splenic and macrophage APC for the induction of Th1 cell proliferation and IFN-gamma production. Indeed we show that IL-12 can overcome the inhibitory effect of IL-10 for the APC-dependent induction of proliferation and IFN-gamma production by Th1 clones. These results suggest that proliferation by terminally differentiated Th1 clones, in contrast to naive T cells, requires stimulation via membrane-bound B7 and a cytokine, IL-12. It is possible that these signals may result in the activation of unresponsive T cells during an inflammatory response. IL-10, by its role in regulating such innate inflammatory responses, may thus help to maintain these T cells in an unresponsive state.


2007 ◽  
Vol 204 (7) ◽  
pp. 1543-1551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyoung-Pyo Kim ◽  
Warren J. Leonard

Regulatory T cells (T reg cells) are a population of CD4+ T cells that limit immune responses. FoxP3 is a master control transcription factor for development and function of these cells, but its regulation is poorly understood. We have identified a T cell receptor–responsive enhancer in the FoxP3 first intron that is dependent on a cyclic-AMP response element binding protein (CREB)/activating transcription factor (ATF) site overlapping a CpG island. Methylation of this island inversely correlates with CREB binding and FoxP3 expression. Interestingly, transforming growth factor-β, which induces T reg cell formation, decreases methylation of the CpG island and increases FoxP3 expression. Similarly, inhibiting methylation with 5-azacytidine or knocking down the DNA methyltransferase Dnmt1 also induces FoxP3 expression. Conversely, methylation of the CpG island, which decreases CREB binding or expression of dominant-negative CREB, decreases FoxP3 gene expression. Thus, T cell receptor–induced FoxP3 expression in T reg cells is controlled both by sequence-specific binding of CREB/ATF and by DNA methylation of a CpG island.


1987 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucinda H. Elliott ◽  
William H. Brooks ◽  
Thomas L. Roszman

✓ The responsiveness of T cells and their subsets (T-helper cells and T-suppressor cells) obtained from patients with malignant gliomas was evaluated in an effort to further define the mechanism of their impaired host immunocompetence. This study demonstrates that peripheral blood lymphocytes obtained from these patients have impaired responsiveness to a variety of mitogens including phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, pokeweed mitogen, and anti-T3 monoclonal antibody. The impaired lymphocyte responsiveness does not result from the inability of these cells to express receptors for a specific mitogen or antibody. The mitogenic responsiveness of purified T cells is markedly reduced when compared to values obtained from control subjects. Therefore, the decreased T cell reactivity of patients with malignant gliomas does not result simply from a diminution in the absolute number of potentially responding lymphocytes. The mitogen reactivity of the T cell subsets, CD4+ helper cells, and CD8+ cytotoxic/suppressor cells was also investigated. These results demonstrate that the responsiveness of the CD4+ T-helper cell subset obtained from these patients is consistently diminished as compared to control values. In contrast, the reactivity of the CD8+ T cell subset was not nearly as dramatically impaired. Thus, these results indicate that the proliferative defect observed in T cells obtained from patients is located predominantly in the T-helper cell subset. Functional deficiencies in this important subpopulation of T lymphocytes may explain, in part, the presence of depressed immune responsiveness in patients with malignant glial tumors.


2003 ◽  
Vol 197 (7) ◽  
pp. 899-906 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Krug ◽  
Ravi Veeraswamy ◽  
Andrew Pekosz ◽  
Osami Kanagawa ◽  
Emil R. Unanue ◽  
...  

Interferon-producing cells (IPCs) secrete high levels of type I interferon in response to certain viruses. The lack of lineage markers, the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II and the capacity to stimulate allogeneic T cells have led these cells to be classified as a subset of dendritic cells (DCs), called plasmacytoid DCs (PDCs). However, the role of IPCs/PDCs in initiating primary immune responses remains elusive. Here we examined the antigen presenting capacity of murine IPCs in antigen specific systems. While CD8α+ and CD11b+ DCs induced logarithmic expansion of naive CD4 and CD8 T cells, without conferring T helper commitment at a first encounter, primary IPCs lacked the ability to stimulate naive T cells. However, when antigen-experienced, nonpolarized T cells expanded by classical DC subsets, were restimulated by IPCs, they proliferated and produced high amounts of IFN-γ. These data indicate that IPCs can effectively stimulate preactivated or memory-type T cells and exert an immune-regulatory role. They also suggest that expansion of naive T cells and acquisition of effector function during antigen-specific T cell responses may involve different antigen-presenting cell (APC) types. Independent and coordinated control of T cell proliferation and differentiation would provide the immune system with greater flexibility in regulating immune responses.


Blood ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 90 (9) ◽  
pp. 3662-3672 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nobukazu Watanabe ◽  
Stephen C. De Rosa ◽  
Anthony Cmelak ◽  
Richard Hoppe ◽  
Leonore A. Herzenberg ◽  
...  

Abstract We investigated the representation of T cells in patients who had been treated for Hodgkin's disease (HD). We found a marked depletion in both CD4 and CD8 naive T-cell counts that persists up to 30 years after completion of treatment. In contrast, CD4 and CD8 memory T-cell subsets recovered to normal or above normal levels by 5 years posttreatment. Thus, the previously-reported long-term deficit in total CD4 T-cell counts after treatment for HD is due to specific depletion of naive T cells. Similarly, total CD8 T-cell counts return to normal by 5 years only because CD8 memory T cells expand to higher than normal levels. These findings suggest that the treatment (mediastinal irradiation) results in a longterm dysregulation of T-cell subset homeostasis. The profound depletion of naive T cells may explain the altered T-cell function in treated patients, including the poor response to immunization after treatment for HD. Further, in some individuals, we identified expansions of unusual subsets expressing low levels of CD8. Eight-color fluorescence-activated cell sorting analyses showed that these cells largely express CD8αα homodimers and CD57, consistent with the phenotype of potentially extrathymically derived T cells. In addition, these cells, both CD4+ and CD4−, are probably cytotoxic lymphocytes, as they express high levels of intracellular perforin. In adults treated for HD, an increased activity of extrathymic T-cell differentiation may partially compensate for the loss of thymic-derived T cells.


Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 367 (6475) ◽  
pp. eaay0524 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed A. ElTanbouly ◽  
Yanding Zhao ◽  
Elizabeth Nowak ◽  
Jiannan Li ◽  
Evelien Schaafsma ◽  
...  

Negative checkpoint regulators (NCRs) temper the T cell immune response to self-antigens and limit the development of autoimmunity. Unlike all other NCRs that are expressed on activated T lymphocytes, V-type immunoglobulin domain-containing suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA) is expressed on naïve T cells. We report an unexpected heterogeneity within the naïve T cell compartment in mice, where loss of VISTA disrupted the major quiescent naïve T cell subset and enhanced self-reactivity. Agonistic VISTA engagement increased T cell tolerance by promoting antigen-induced peripheral T cell deletion. Although a critical player in naïve T cell homeostasis, the ability of VISTA to restrain naïve T cell responses was lost under inflammatory conditions. VISTA is therefore a distinctive NCR of naïve T cells that is critical for steady-state maintenance of quiescence and peripheral tolerance.


1992 ◽  
Vol 176 (5) ◽  
pp. 1431-1437 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Croft ◽  
D D Duncan ◽  
S L Swain

Because of the low frequency of T cells for any particular soluble protein antigen in unprimed animals, the requirements for naive T cell responses in specific antigens have not been clearly delineated and they have been difficult to study in vitro. We have taken advantage of mice transgenic for the V beta 3/V alpha 11 T cell receptor (TCR), which can recognize a peptide of cytochrome c presented by IEk. 85-90% of CD4+ T cells in these mice express the transgenic TCR, and we show that almost all such V beta 3/V alpha 11 receptor-positive cells have a phenotype characteristic of naive T cells, including expression of high levels of CD45RB, high levels of L-selectin (Mel-14), low levels of CD44 (Pgp-1), and secretion of interleukin 2 (IL-2) as the major cytokine. Naive T cells, separated on the basis of CD45RB high expression, gave vigorous responses (proliferation and IL-2 secretion) to peptide antigen presented in vitro by a mixed antigen-presenting cell population. At least 50% of the T cell population appeared to respond, as assessed by blast transformation, entry into G1, and expression of increased levels of CD44 by 24 h. Significant contributions to the response by contaminating memory CD4+ cells were ruled out by demonstrating that the majority of the CD45RB low, L-selectin low, CD44 high cells did not express the V beta 3/V alpha 11 TCR and responded poorly to antigen. We find that proliferation and IL-2 secretion of the naive CD4 cells is minimal when resting B cells present peptide antigen, and that both splenic and bone marrow-derived macrophages are weak stimulators. Naive T cells did respond well to high numbers of activated B cells. However, dendritic cells were the most potent stimulators of proliferation and IL-2 secretion at low cell numbers, and were far superior inducers of IL-2 at higher numbers. These studies establish that naive CD4 T cells can respond vigorously to soluble antigen and indicate that maximal stimulation can be achieved by presentation of antigen on dendritic cells. This model should prove very useful in further investigations of activation requirements and functional characteristics of naive helper T cells.


2016 ◽  
Vol 119 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tania A Nevers ◽  
Ane Salvador ◽  
Francisco Velazquez ◽  
Mark Aronovitz ◽  
Robert Blanton

Background: Cardiac fibrogenesis is a major pathogenic factor that occurs in heart failure (HF) and results in contractile dysfunction and ventricular dilation. Recently, we showed that T cell deficient mice (TCRα -/- ) do not develop cardiac fibrosis (CF) and have preserved cardiac function in the thoracic aortic constriction (TAC) mouse model of pressure overload (PO). Specifically, CD4 + T cells are activated in the cardiac draining lymph nodes and infiltrate the LV, where the Th1 and Th17 effector T cell signature transcription factors are significantly upregulated as compared with control mice. However, the T cell subsets involved and the mechanisms by which they contribute to CF and pathogenesis of non-ischemic HF remains to be determined. Thus, we hypothesize that heart infiltrated effector T cells perpetuate the fibrotic response by regulating the differentiation and activation of extracellular matrix-producing cardiac myofibroblasts. Methods and Results: Naïve or effector T cells differentiated in vitro or isolated from mice undergoing TAC or Sham surgery were co-cultured with adult C57BL/6 cardiac fibroblasts (CFB). In contrast with naïve T cells, effector T cells and PO activated T cells strongly adhered to CFB and mediated fibroblast to myofibroblasts transition as depicted by immunofluorescence expression of SMAα. Effector T cell supernatants only slightly mediated this transition, indicating that effector T cells direct contact with CFB, rather than cytokine release is required to mediate CFB transformation. Adoptive transfer of effector, but not naïve T cells, into TCRα -/- recipient mice in the onset of TAC resulted in T cells infiltration into the left ventricle and increased CF. Conclusions: Our data indicate that CD4+ effector T cells directly interact with CFB to induce CF in response to PO induced CF. Future studies will determine the adhesion mechanisms regulating this crosstalk and evaluate the pro-fibrotic mechanisms induced and whether this is a T effector cell specific subset. These results will provide an attractive tool to counteract the inflammatory/fibrotic process as an alternative option for the treatment of CF in non- ischemic HF.


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