流式细胞术检测表达FoxP3的CD4+CD25+调节性T细胞

目的 探讨转录因子FoxP3在外周血CD4 CD25 调节性T细胞(Treg)内的表达特性.方法 取正常人外周血单个核细胞(PBMC),经固定/透膜处理进行细胞内染色,用流式细胞术(FCM)检测T细胞内FoxP3.以抗人CD3/CD28诱导T细胞活化,再用定量PCR及FCM术分别检测FoxP3 mRNA及蛋白质表达水平.结果 FoxP3主要表达于CD4 T细胞,尤其是CD25高表达的CD4 T细胞,达97%左右;中等程度表达CD25的细胞中也含有少量FoxP3阳性细胞.T细胞活化后,表达FoxP3的CD4 CD25 T细胞比例显著增高,FCM检测结果与定量PCR结果一致.结论 FoxP3不仅参与维持Treg细胞的功能,也与T细胞的活化有关.FCM检测细胞核内表达的FoxP3分子为研究Treg细胞提供了一种快速、简便的方法.     

Coexpression of CD25 and CD27 identifies FoxP3+ regulatory T cells in inflamed synovia

A better understanding of the role of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in disease pathogenesis should follow from the discovery of reliable markers capable of discriminating regulatory from activated T cells. We report that the CD4+CD25+ population in synovial fluid of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients comprises both regulatory and effector T cells that can be distinguished by expression of CD27. CD4+CD25+CD27+ cells expressed high amounts of FoxP3 (43% of them being FoxP3+), did not produce interleukin (IL)-2, interferon-gamma, or tumor necrosis factor, and suppressed T cell proliferation in vitro, being, on a per cell basis, fourfold more potent than the corresponding peripheral blood population. In contrast, CD4+CD25+CD27- cells expressed low amounts of FoxP3, produced effector cytokines and did not suppress T cell proliferation. After in vitro activation and expansion, regulatory but not conventional T cells maintained high expression of CD27. IL-7 and IL-15 were found to be present in synovial fluid of JIA patients and, when added in vitro, abrogated the suppressive activity of regulatory T cells. Together, these results demonstrate that, when used in conjunction with CD25, CD27 is a useful marker to distinguish regulatory from effector T cells in inflamed tissues and suggest that at these sites IL-7 and IL-15 may interfere with regulatory T cell function.     

Role of IFN-gamma in induction of Foxp3 and conversion of CD4+ CD25- T cells to CD4+ Tregs

IFN-gamma is an important Th1 proinflammatory cytokine and has a paradoxical effect on EAE in which disease susceptibility is unexpectedly heightened in IFN-gamma-deficient mice. In this study, we provide what we believe is new evidence indicating that IFN-gamma is critically required for the conversion of CD4+ CD25- T cells to CD4+ Tregs during EAE. In our study, the added severity of EAE in IFN-gamma knockout mice was directly associated with altered encephalitogenic T cell responses, which correlated with reduced frequency and function of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Tregs when compared with those of WT mice. It was demonstrated in both human and mouse systems that in vitro IFN-gamma treatment of CD4+ CD25- T cells led to conversion of CD4+ Tregs as characterized by increased expression of Foxp3 and enhanced regulatory function. Mouse CD4+ CD25- T cells, when treated in vitro with IFN-gamma, acquired marked regulatory properties as evidenced by suppression of EAE by adoptive transfer. These findings have important implications for the understanding of the complex role of IFN-gamma in both induction and self regulation of inflammatory processes.     

Highly efficient expansion of human CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells for cellular immunotherapy in patients with graft-versus-host disease

CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (T(REG)) are engaged in the regulation of murine and human immune responses as well as graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) after allogeneic stem-cell transplantation. Despite their suppression of GvHD they do not impair graft-versus-tumor activity in the mouse, which makes T(REG) especially attractive candidates for cellular immunotherapy. T(REG) comprise only 5% to 10% of CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood and are naturally anergic, which prevented their use as therapeutic suppressor cells in the context of autoimmune or alloimmune reactions so far. We therefore developed an in vitro expansion protocol for human T(REG), breaking their anergy with anti-CD3/anti-CD28-coupled paramagnetic beads and a combination of interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-15. Highly purified human T(REG) can be expanded 285-fold to 1000-fold within 20 days and keep their phenotype as well as all their suppressor functions even in the context of stimulation with mature allogeneic dendritic cells. However, we demonstrate that FoxP3 is not a reliable marker for human T(REG) as it is transiently inducible in CD4+CD25- cells upon activation with cytokines or via their T cell receptor. In addition, we successfully expanded CD4+CD25+ cells from patients after allogeneic stem-cell transplantation with or without GvHD and show that different suppressor functions might be lost independently, demonstrating that human T(REG) biology is likely more complicated than previously thought.     

Resolution of airway inflammation and hyperreactivity after in vivo transfer of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells is interleukin 10 dependent

Deficient suppression of T cell responses to allergen by CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells has been observed in patients with allergic disease. Our current experiments used a mouse model of airway inflammation to examine the suppressive activity of allergen-specific CD4+CD25+ T cells in vivo. Transfer of ovalbumin (OVA) peptide-specific CD4+CD25+ T cells to OVA-sensitized mice reduced airway hyperreactivity (AHR), recruitment of eosinophils, and T helper type 2 (Th2) cytokine expression in the lung after allergen challenge. This suppression was dependent on interleukin (IL) 10 because increased lung expression of IL-10 was detected after transfer of CD4+CD25+ T cells, and regulation was reversed by anti-IL-10R antibody. However, suppression of AHR, airway inflammation, and increased expression of IL-10 were still observed when CD4+CD25+ T cells from IL-10 gene-deficient mice were transferred. Intracellular cytokine staining confirmed that transfer of CD4+CD25+ T cells induced IL-10 expression in recipient CD4+ T cells, but no increase in IL-10 expression was detected in airway macrophages, dendritic cells, or B cells. These data suggest that CD4+CD25+ T cells can suppress the Th2 cell-driven response to allergen in vivo by an IL-10-dependent mechanism but that IL-10 production by the regulatory T cells themselves is not required for such suppression.     

Conversion of CD4+ CD25- cells into CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells in vivo requires B7 costimulation, but not the thymus

The CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells play a critical role in controlling autoimmunity, but little is known about their development and maintenance. In this study, we investigated whether CD4+ CD25- cells can convert to CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells in vivo under natural conditions. CD4+ CD25- cells from CD45.1+ mice were sorted and transferred into congenic CD45.2+ mice. Converted CD4+ CD25+ cells could be detected in lymphoid organs as early as 1 wk after transfer and by 6 wk after transfer, 5-12% of transferred CD4+ cells expressed CD25. Converted CD4+ CD25+ cells themselves failed to proliferate after stimulation, but could suppress proliferation of responder cells in vitro, and also expressed high levels of Foxp3 mRNA. In addition, CD4+ CD25- cells transferred into thymectomized congenic mice converted to CD4+ CD25+ cells that also suppressed responder cell proliferation in vitro, and expressed high levels of Foxp3 mRNA. Finally, CD4+ CD25- cells transferred into B7-/- mice failed to convert into CD4+ CD25+ cells that exhibit the regulatory phenotype. These data indicate that CD4+ CD25- cells convert into CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells spontaneously in vivo and suggest that this conversion process could contribute significantly to the maintenance of the peripheral CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cell population.     

Single cell analysis shows decreasing FoxP3 and TGFbeta1 coexpressing CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells during autoimmune diabetes

Natural CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T (CD4(+)CD25(+) T reg) cells play a key role in the immunoregulation of autoimmunity. However, little is known about the interactions between CD4(+)CD25(+) T reg cells and autoreactive T cells. This is due, in part, to the difficulty of using cell surface markers to identify CD4(+)CD25(+) T reg cells accurately. Using a novel real-time PCR assay, mRNA copy number of FoxP3, TGFbeta1, and interleukin (IL)-10 was measured in single cells to characterize and quantify CD4(+)CD25(+) T reg cells in the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse, a murine model for type 1 diabetes (T1D). The suppressor function of CD4(+)CD25(+)CD62L(hi) T cells, mediated by TGFbeta, declined in an age-dependent manner. This loss of function coincided with a temporal decrease in the percentage of FoxP3 and TGFbeta1 coexpressing T cells within pancreatic lymph node and islet infiltrating CD4(+)CD25(+)CD62L(hi) T cells, and was detected in female NOD mice but not in NOD male mice, or NOR or C57BL/6 female mice. These results demonstrate that the majority of FoxP3-positive CD4(+)CD25(+) T reg cells in NOD mice express TGFbeta1 but not IL-10, and that a defect in the maintenance and/or expansion of this pool of immunoregulatory effectors is associated with the progression of T1D.     

Immunologic self-tolerance maintained by CD25(+)CD4(+) regulatory T cells constitutively expressing cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4

This report shows that cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) plays a key role in T cell-mediated dominant immunologic self-tolerance. In vivo blockade of CTLA-4 for a limited period in normal mice leads to spontaneous development of chronic organ-specific autoimmune diseases, which are immunopathologically similar to human counterparts. In normal naive mice, CTLA-4 is constitutively expressed on CD25(+)CD4(+) T cells, which constitute 5-10% of peripheral CD4(+) T cells. When the CD25(+)CD4(+) T cells are stimulated via the T cell receptor in vitro, they potently suppress antigen-specific and polyclonal activation and proliferation of other T cells, including CTLA-4-deficient T cells, and blockade of CTLA-4 abrogates the suppression. CD28-deficient CD25(+)CD4(+) T cells can also suppress normal T cells, indicating that CD28 is dispensable for activation of the regulatory T cells. Thus, the CD25(+)CD4(+) regulatory T cell population engaged in dominant self-tolerance may require CTLA-4 but not CD28 as a costimulatory molecule for its functional activation. Furthermore, interference with this role of CTLA-4 suffices to elicit autoimmune disease in otherwise normal animals, presumably through affecting CD25(+)CD4(+) T cell-mediated control of self-reactive T cells. This unique function of CTLA-4 could be exploited to potentiate T cell-mediated immunoregulation, and thereby to induce immunologic tolerance or to control autoimmunity.     

调节性T细胞的新标记CD4~+CD25~+CD127~(low/-)在类风湿性关节炎中的应用

目的选择用膜表面标志CD4+CD25+CD127low/-作为检测调节性T(Treg)细胞的指标,探讨其在类风湿性关节炎(RA)中的可能临床应用价值。方法用流式细胞术检测正常人及RA患者外周血CD4+CD25high、CD4+CD25+FoxP3+和CD4+CD25+CD127low/-T细胞占CD4+T细胞的比例,分析CD4+CD25+CD127low/-与CD4+CD25+FoxP3+2群细胞比例之间的相关性。结果正常人及RA患者外周血CD4+CD25+CD127low/-T细胞比例与CD4+CD25+FoxP3+T细胞比例之间呈显著正相关(r=0.694、0.768,P均<0.01)。RA患者外周血CD4+CD25high、CD4+CD25+FoxP3+及CD4+CD25+CD127low/-T细胞比例均显著低于正常人(P均<0.01)。结论膜表面标志CD4+CD25+CD127low/-可以用来鉴定Treg细胞,RA患者外周血CD4+CD25+CD127low/-T细胞的明显减少可能是RA的发病机制之一。     

CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells can mediate suppressor function in the absence of transforming growth factor beta1 production and responsiveness

CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells inhibit organ-specific autoimmune diseases induced by CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells and are potent suppressors of T cell activation in vitro. Their mechanism of suppression remains unknown, but most in vitro studies suggest that it is cell contact-dependent and cytokine independent. The role of TGF-beta1 in CD4(+)CD25(+) suppressor function remains unclear. While most studies have failed to reverse suppression with anti-transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 in vitro, one recent study has reported that CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells express cell surface TGF-beta1 and that suppression can be completely abrogated by high concentrations of anti-TGF-beta suggesting that cell-associated TGF-beta1 was the primary effector of CD4(+)CD25(+)-mediated suppression. Here, we have reevaluated the role of TGF-beta1 in CD4(+)CD25(+)-mediated suppression. Neutralization of TGF-beta1 with either monoclonal antibody (mAb) or soluble TGF-betaRII-Fc did not reverse in vitro suppression mediated by resting or activated CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells. Responder T cells from Smad3(-/-) or dominant-negative TGF-beta type RII transgenic (DNRIITg) mice, that are both unresponsive to TGF-beta1-induced growth arrest, were as susceptible to CD4(+)CD25(+)-mediated suppression as T cells from wild-type mice. Furthermore, CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells from neonatal TGF-beta1(-/-) mice were as suppressive as CD4(+)CD25(+) from TGF-beta1(+/+) mice. Collectively, these results demonstrate that CD4(+)CD25(+) suppressor function can occur independently of TGF-beta1.     

CD4+CD25+ T cells protect against experimentally induced asthma and alter pulmonary dendritic cell phenotype and function

The role of natural CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (T reg) cells in the control of allergic asthma remains poorly understood. We explore the impact of T reg cell depletion on the allergic response in mice susceptible (A/J) or comparatively resistant (C3H) to the development of allergen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). In C3H mice, anti-CD25-mediated T reg cell depletion before house dust mite treatment increased several features of the allergic diathesis (AHR, eosinophilia, and IgE), which was concomitant with elevated T helper type 2 (Th2) cytokine production. In similarly T reg cell-depleted A/J mice, we observed a moderate increase in airway eosinophilia but no effects on AHR, IgE levels, or Th2 cytokine synthesis. As our experiments suggested that T reg cell depletion in C3H mice before sensitization was sufficient to enhance the allergic phenotype, we characterized dendritic cells (DCs) in T reg cell-depleted C3H mice. T reg cell-depleted mice had increased numbers of pulmonary myeloid DCs with elevated expression of major histocompatibility complex class II, CD80, and CD86. Moreover, DCs from T reg cell-depleted mice demonstrated an increased capacity to stimulate T cell proliferation and Th2 cytokine production, which was concomitant with reduced IL-12 expression. These data suggest that resistance to allergen-driven AHR is mediated in part by CD4+CD25+ T reg cell suppression of DC activation and that the absence of this regulatory pathway contributes to susceptibility.     

Tumor cells convert immature myeloid dendritic cells into TGF-beta-secreting cells inducing CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cell proliferation

The mechanisms through which regulatory T cells accumulate in lymphoid organs of tumor-bearing hosts remain elusive. Our experiments indicate that the accumulation of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (T reg cells) expressing FoxP3 and exhibiting immunosuppressive function originates from the proliferation of naturally occurring CD25+ T cells and requires signaling through transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta receptor II. During tumor progression, a subset of dendritic cells (DCs) exhibiting a myeloid immature phenotype is recruited to draining lymph nodes. This DC subset selectively promotes the proliferation of T reg cells in a TGF-beta-dependent manner in mice and rats. Tumor cells are necessary and sufficient to convert DCs into regulatory cells that secrete bioactive TGF-beta and stimulate T reg cell proliferation. In conclusion, tumor expansion can stimulate T reg cells via a specific DC subset.     

人CD4+FOXP3+T细胞的异质性研究进展

CD4+ CD25+调节性T细胞(Treg)是一群具有免疫调节功能的细胞,对维持自身免疫耐受和免疫自稳必不可少,FOXP3特异性表达于Treg细胞,是Treg细胞发育、活化、发挥功能的关键.目前,CD4+ FOXP3+T淋巴细胞常被用来定义Treg细胞进行科学研究,而最近研究表明,人CD4+ FOXP3+T淋巴细胞存在表型和功能上的异质性,这其中包括具有免疫抑制功能的CD4+ FOXP3+ Treg,还包含没有抑制功能的其它类型T细胞,而这些不同功能的细胞亚群可以通过表型的差异加以区分.本文就近年来关于CD4+ FOXP3 +T细胞亚群表型特征和功能的异质性研究作一综述.     

NFATc2 and NFATc3 transcription factors play a crucial role in suppression of CD4+ T lymphocytes by CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells

The phenotype of NFATc2(-/-) c3(-/-) (double knockout [DKO]) mice implies a disturbed regulation of T cell responses, evidenced by massive lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, and autoaggressive phenomena. The population of CD4(+) CD25(+) T cells from DKO mice lacks regulatory capacity, except a small subpopulation that highly expresses glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor family-related gene (GITR) and CD25. However, neither wild-type nor DKO CD4(+) CD25(+) regulatory T cells (T reg cells) are able to suppress proliferation of DKO CD4(+) CD25(-) T helper cells. Therefore, combined NFATc2/c3 deficiency is compatible with the development of CD4(+) CD25(+) T reg cells but renders conventional CD4(+) T cells unresponsive to suppression, underlining the importance of NFAT proteins for sustaining T cell homeostasis.     

Loss of functional suppression by CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in patients with multiple sclerosis

CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells contribute to the maintenance of peripheral tolerance by active suppression because their deletion causes spontaneous autoimmune diseases in mice. Human CD4+ regulatory T cells expressing high levels of CD25 are suppressive in vitro and mimic the activity of murine CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease thought to be mediated by T cells recognizing myelin protein peptides. We hypothesized that altered functions of CD4+CD25hi regulatory T cells play a role in the breakdown of immunologic self-tolerance in patients with MS. Here, we report a significant decrease in the effector function of CD4+CD25hi regulatory T cells from peripheral blood of patients with MS as compared with healthy donors. Differences were also apparent in single cell cloning experiments in which the cloning frequency of CD4+CD25hi T cells was significantly reduced in patients as compared with normal controls. These data are the first to demonstrate alterations of CD4+CD25hi regulatory T cell function in patients with MS.     

中国HIV早期感染者CD+4CD+25Foxp3+调节性T淋巴细胞变化研究

目的 研究1年以内感染HIV的感染者(早期感染者,EHI)体内CD+4 CD+25 Foxp3+调节性T淋巴细胞水平及其与疾病进展相关性.方法 随机选取51例HIV感染者,依据感染时间及CD+4 T淋巴细胞水平分为3组:EHI组30例、HIV组15例、AIDS组6例,20名健康人作为对照组,各组对象的年龄、性别具有可比性.用EDTA抗凝管采集全血,应用FACSAria流式细胞仪及Foxp3染色试剂盒,检测外周血单个核细胞CD+4CD+25Foxp3+调节性T淋巴细胞表达水平,分析EHI者及全部HIV感染者CD+4 CD+25Foxp3+调节性T淋巴细胞表达水平与CD+4T淋巴细胞数量、病毒调定点、病毒载量及淋巴细胞活化水平间的相关性.结果 健康对照组、EHI组、HIV组及AIDS组CD+4C+25Foxp3+T淋巴细胞百分率逐级上升,其中EHI组CD+4CD+25Foxp3+T淋巴细胞百分率[3.79(2.11～5.43)%]低于AIDS组[8.09(4.90～8.90)%],差异有统计学意义(Z=-2.29,P=0.022);EHI组CD+4 CD+25Foxp3+T淋巴细胞百分率与病毒调定点正相关(r=0.479,P=0.038),与CD4T淋巴细胞计数呈负相关(r=-0.455,P=0.011),与CD+3 HLA+T淋巴细胞呈正相关(r=0.533,P=0.002).结论 中国EHI者CD+4 CD+25Foxp3+调节性T淋巴细胞百分率高与高病毒调定点及低CD+4 T淋巴细胞数量相关,提示CD+4 CD+25Fox3+调节性T淋巴细胞是加速HIV感染早期疾病进展的因素之一.