Effects of interleukin 4 on CD25+CD4+ regulatory T cell function

CD25+CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) contribute to the maintenance of peripheral tolerance against self and non-self. The modulatory effects of cytokines, such as interleukin 4 (IL-4) on the function of Tregs have not been explored in detail. We here report that IL-4 prevents spontaneous apoptosis and the decline of foxp3 mRNA which were found to occur during culture of isolated Tregs. Tregs exposed to IL-4 were more potent in suppressing the proliferation of na?ve CD4+ T cells and they better inhibited IFN-gamma production by CD4+ T cells as compared to Tregs cultured in medium. IL-4 also enhanced membrane IL-2Ralpha (CD25) expression on Tregs above the levels observed on freshly isolated cells. IL-4-mediated effects on Treg function persisted in Tregs from Stat6-/- mice, pointing to a Stat6-independent intracellular transduction pathway. In conclusion, our data suggest that the anti-inflammatory function of IL-4 could partly be mediated by effects on Tregs function.     

罗格列酮上调成人隐匿性自身免疫糖尿病患者CD4+T细胞Foxp3 mRNA的表达

目的 观察罗格列酮对成人隐匿性自身免疫糖尿病(LADA)患者CD4+调节性T细胞的影响,旨在探讨罗格列酮的免疫调节机制.方法 采用磁珠分离LADA患者CD4+T细胞,1、10和100 μmol/L罗格列酮干预CIM+T细胞.MTT法检测细胞活性,3H-TdR掺人法检测增殖抑制率.流式细胞术检测CD4+CD25+T细胞比值.RT-PCR检测过氧化物酶体增殖激活受体-γ(PPARγ)mRNA、TGF-β1 mRNA表达,实时荧光定量PCR检测Foxp3 mRNA表达.结果 CD4+T细胞表达PPARγmRNA.罗格列酮抑制植物凝集素(PHA)刺激的CD4+T细胞增殖.1μmol/L和10μmol/L组罗格列酮作用的CD4+CD25+T细胞比例无明显变化,100 μmol/L组CD4+CD25+T细胞比例降低.10μmol/L罗格列酮上调CD4+T细胞的Foxp3 mRNA表达,但TGF-β1 mRNA表达无显著变化.小剂量IL-2参与下,1μmol/L罗格列酮(药理浓度范围内)升高CD4+T细胞Foxp3mRNA表达.结论 罗格列酮上调LADA患者CD4+T细胞Foxp3 mRNA表达,改善自身免疫耐受缺陷.     

Induction of activation-induced cytidine deaminase gene expression by IL-4 and CD40 ligation is dependent on STAT6 and NFkappaB

Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) is an inducible gene that plays an important role in class switch recombination, somatic hypermutation and gene conversion in B cells. We examined the regulation of AID gene expression in human and mouse B cells by IL-4 and CD40 ligation. IL-4 by itself and, to a much lesser extent, CD40 ligation induced AID mRNA expression in primary B cells. The two stimuli strongly synergized in inducing AID mRNA and protein expression. IL-4 induced STAT6 binding to a site in the 5' upstream region of the AID gene, while CD40 ligation induced NFkappaB binding to two sites in that region. B cells from STAT6-/- mice failed to up-regulate AID in response to IL-4, while B cells from p50-/- mice were impaired in their ability to up-regulate AID in response to CD40 ligation and IL-4. These results suggest that signals delivered via CD40 that activate NFkappaB synergize with signals delivered via the IL-4 receptor that activate STAT6 to induce optimal AID gene expression.     

IL-2调节人外周血T淋巴细胞CTLA-4表达

目的 探讨人外周血T淋巴细胞CTLA-4的表达情况及IL-2对其表达的调节作用。方法 采用流式细胞仪定量测定人外周血T淋巴细胞内及细胞膜上CTLA-4的水平，半定量RT-PCR检测T淋巴细胞内CTLA-4mRNA的水平，并在体外用IL-2刺激T淋巴细胞后观察CTLA-4及CTLA-4mRNA水平的变化。结果 人外周血T淋巴细胞膜表面几乎不表达CTLA-4，7．6％-18．0％的T淋巴细胞有胞内表达，CD4^ T淋巴细胞表达CTLA-4的阳性比例略高于CD8^ T淋巴细胞；人T淋巴细胞可溶性形式的CTLA-4mRNA半衰期短于全长CTLA-4mRNA；IL-2可以通过诱导人T淋巴细胞CTLA-4mRNA的转录上调CTLA-4的表达，IL-2诱导的细胞多为CD25^ T淋巴细胞。结论 CTLA4多存在于人外周血T淋巴细胞内，参与T淋巴细胞活化过程的调节。IL-2的免疫抑制作用可能与其诱导T淋巴细胞内CTLA-4mRNA转录，从而上调CTLA-4的表达有关。     

Intracellular expression of MICA in activated CD4 T lymphocytes and protection from NK cell-mediated MICA-dependent cytotoxicity

MICA is a stress-regulated molecule recognized by the NK cell-activating receptor NKG2D. Previously, we demonstrated that MICA is induced on activated T cells but regulation by mitogenic cytokines and its biological consequences remain unexplored. Here, we show that IL-2, IL-4, and IL-15 but not TNF-alpha or IFN-alpha induced MICA expression in T lymphocytes present in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), as assessed by Western blot. IL-2 effect involved Jak3/STAT5, p38 MAPK, p70(56) kinase, Lck/fyn kinases, and NF-kappaB. MICA expression was also observed in Th1 and Th2 cells. However, surface expression was not detected. T lymphocytes present in PBMCs and isolated CD4+ T lymphocytes stimulated with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate and ionomycin also induced MICA expression as assessed by Western blot, but only low levels were expressed at the cell surface. Activated but not resting CD4+ T lymphocytes were lysed by IL-15- or IL-2-stimulated NK cells, and susceptibility was increased when HLA class I molecules were blocked. Also, cytokine-stimulated NK cells produced more IFN-gamma after culture with activated CD4+ T lymphocytes. However, the participation of MICA in these responses, if any, was marginal. Confocal microscopy revealed that MICA is retained mostly inside activated CD4+ T cells. Our results suggest that low surface expression of MICA on activated CD4+ T lymphocytes might be a safeguard mechanism to protect them from NK cells in an inflammatory, virus-infected, or tumor microenvironment, where NK and activated CD4+ T cells are recruited.     

The AHNAK induces increased IL-6 production in CD4+ T cells and serves as a potential diagnostic biomarker for recurrent pregnancy loss

Disorganized maternal–fetal immune tolerance contributes to the occurrence of unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). AHNAK is a scaffolding protein participating in the regulation of Ca2+ entry into T cells and the pathophysiology of diverse diseases. We performed differential gene expression analysis in decidual immune cells (DICs) isolated from three patients with RPL and from three healthy controls via RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq), which revealed 407 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Among these DEGs, we underscored the clinical significance of elevated AHNAK mRNA and protein levels in DICs, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and decidua of the patients with RPL, suggesting its potential use as a biomarker for the diagnosis of RPL. Especially, the ratios of decidual and blood AHNAK+CD4+ T cells in the CD4+ T cell population were significantly increased in patients with RPL, and the loss of AHNAK was further shown to inhibit interleukin (IL)-6 secretion in the CD4+ Jurkat cell line. Similar patterns were also observed in the clinical decidual and blood specimens. We uncovered that the AHNAK+CD4+ T cells could secrete more IL-6 than that the corresponding AHNAK-CD4+ T cells. Moreover, the frequencies of decidual and blood IL-6+CD4+ T cells in the CD4+ T-cell population were also increased in patients with RPL and showed significant positive correlations with the frequencies of AHNAK+CD4+ T cells. Our findings suggest that the elevated AHNAK expressed by CD4+ T cells may be involved in the immune dysregulation of RPL by increasing IL-6 production, illustrating its potential as a novel intervention target for RPL.     

CD4~+CD25~+Foxp3~+调节性T细胞与LSCC发病的相关研究

为研究调节性T细胞在喉鳞状细胞癌(laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma,LSCC)、发展中的变化及其参与疾病进展的作用机制,收集2010～2011年上海市五官科医院收治的50例LSCC患者的肿瘤组织和外周血,应用流式细胞术检测CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg细胞及趋化因子受体CCR6的表达变化,Real-time PCR法检测转录因子Foxp3以及细胞因子mRNA的表达量。结果发现:LSCC患者外周血中CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg的百分比较正常人显著增加,并与临床分期相关;CD4+CD25+CCR6+Treg Foxp3的表达,以及肿瘤组织Foxp3mRNA的表达皆明显高于对照组,且与临床分期、淋巴结转移相关。同时发现,LSCC患者外周血中TGF-β和IL-10mRNA的检出水平分别高于对照组,但IFN-γ、IL-2、IL-12mRNA的水平低于对照组。提示此类Foxp3+Treg属于一类诱导性T抑制细胞(Foxp3+iTreg),可通过产生IL-10和TGF-β抑制LSCC患者的细胞免疫功能。Foxp3的检测可能对判断LSCC的预后有一定价值。     

CD45 isoform expression is associated with different susceptibilities of human naive and effector CD4+ T cells to respond to IL-4

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is the major factor promoting the development of T helper type 2 (Th2) cells from naive precursor T cells. Minute amounts of IL-4 produced by naive T cells seem to be sufficient; however, the molecular mechanisms explaining this efficient utilization of IL-4 are not yet known. Here, we show that human CD4+ CD45RA+ naive T cells, in contrast to CD4+ CD45R0+ effector T cells, show responsiveness to endogenous as well as exogenous IL-4 to proliferate and differentiate towards Th2 cells in vitro. Despite production levels of IL-4 below conventional detection limits, CD45RA+ T cell-derived IL-4 could clearly activate STAT6. Although the expression levels of IL-4R and STAT6 were not different between naive and effector T cells, only naive T cells responded to IL-4 in a STAT6-dependent reporter gene assay. Transfecting a trans-dominant negative form of STAT6 abrogated IL-4-induced proliferation in CD45RA+ cells. A significantly higher protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) activity was detected in CD45R0+ T cells as compared to CD45RA+ T cells. Cross-linking CD45 potently reduced PTPase activity in CD45R0+ T cells and restored their ability to proliferate in response to IL-4. Thus, CD45 PTPase activity contributes to the susceptibility of naive and memory T cells to respond to IL-4.     

JAK2-STAT3 / STAT5 信号通路与儿童食物过敏CD4+ T 淋巴细胞亚群变化的相关性研究

目的:探讨JAK2-STAT3/ STAT5 信号通路与儿童食物过敏CD4+ T 淋巴细胞亚群变化的相关性。方法:收集2015 年1 月至2017 年3 月来我院就诊的食物过敏患儿78 例,为过敏组;同期收集来我院体检的健康儿童78 例,为对照组。并根据儿童年龄将过敏组和对照组分为A、B、C、D 四组,其中A 组臆1 岁,B 组1 ~3 岁(不包括1 岁),C 组3 ~6 岁(不包括3 岁),D 组6 ~11 岁(不包括6 岁)。采用流式细胞仪检测CD4+ T 淋巴细胞亚群Th1、Th2、Th17 和调节性T 淋巴细胞(Treg)百分比,同时采用qPCR 检测外周血单核细胞JAK2、STAT3、STAT5 的mRNA 水平,分析两组儿童上述CD4+ T 淋巴细胞亚群和JAK2、STAT3、STAT5 表达水平的差异,并进一步分析JAK2-STAT3/ STAT5 信号通路和CD4+ T 淋巴细胞亚群的相关性。结果:对照组A 组、B 组、C 组儿童Th1、Treg 淋巴细胞百分比及Th1/ Th2、Treg/ Th17 比值均明显高于过敏组患儿A 组、B 组、C 组,而Th2、Th17 淋巴细胞百分比均小于过敏组所对应的同年龄段患儿,随儿童年龄增大,两组间差异均明显减小,但差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。对照组D 组儿童和过敏组D 组儿童上述指标差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。分别针对A、B、C 三组患儿JAK2、STAT3、STAT5 和CD4+ T 淋巴细胞亚群水平进行相关性比较,Th1、Treg、Th1/ Th2、Treg/ Th17 的相关性系数均<0(P<0.05),而Th2、Th17 的相关性系数均>0(P<0.05),且上述三组的相关系数绝对值逐次减小。上述信号通路分子与CD4+ T 淋巴细胞亚群水平在D 组均无明显相关性。结论:低龄食物过敏儿童的JAK2-STAT3/ STAT5 信号通路存在明显活化和CD4+ T淋巴细胞亚群改变现象,JAK2-STAT3/ STAT5 信号通路可有效调控CD4+ T 淋巴细胞亚群的分布,并伴随患儿年龄增大,上述作用相关性减弱并消失。     

Influence of regulatory t cells on the functioning of natural killer cells during cancer immunotherapy

One of the common arguments against cancer immunotherapy based on natural killer (NK) cells activated in the presence of interleukin-2 (IL-2) is the probability of the activation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) by IL-2 besides NK cells. Thus, we have monitored numbers of FoxP3+CD4+CD25+ T cells in the samples of healthy volunteers' peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) cultured with or without IL-2. We observed marked increase in the percentages of the CD4+CD25+ T cells in the presence of IL-2. Proportions of Foxp3+CD4+CD25+ T cells feebly increased, remained on the same level or even decreased compared to PBMCs cultured without exogenous IL-2. Based on the absence of FoxP3 expression, most of the CD4+CD25+ T cells purified from IL-2 activated PBMCs were not Tregs, but activated Th cells. Moreover, the addition of the purified supposed Tregs to samples of activated NK cells never inhibited their cytotoxic reactions.     

ConA刺激对CD4~+CD25~+调节性T细胞趋化特性及其表面趋化因子受体CCR4/CCR6表达的影响

目的体外动态观察ConA激活的调节性T细胞表面趋化因子受体的表达变化及其趋化特性,为利用调节性T细胞诱导免疫耐受提供线索。方法常规分离正常健康人外周血单个核细胞,免疫磁珠阴性分选CD4+T细胞;加FITC-An-tiCD4抗体,APC-AntiCD25抗体,PE-AntiCD127抗体上流式细胞仪分选出CD4hiCD127loCD25hi-int细胞。纯化的调节性T细胞与CD4+CD25-T分别用ConA(10μg/mL)刺激0、24、48h后,用趋化因子CCL1、CCL5、CCL20、CCL22做趋化实验,观察各趋化因子作用下调节性T细胞与CD4+CD25-T细胞的趋化特性。同时,流式细胞仪检测CCR4与CCR6的表达。结果分离得到的调节性T细胞纯度为97.4%,活细胞率为95%,得率:4.1%。CCL1、CCL20、CCL22均可趋化调节性T细胞,且在ConA激活后趋化效率随时间而改变。CCL1与CCL22对调节性T细胞的趋化指数显著高于CD4+CD25-T细胞;CCL20对调节性T细胞和CD4+CD25-T细胞趋化指数都很高;CCL5对调节性T细胞趋化性则显著弱于CD4+CD25-T细胞。ConA刺激后...     

Lymphocyte homeostasis following therapeutic lymphocyte depletion in multiple sclerosis

Following lymphocyte depletion, homeostatic mechanisms drive the reconstitution of lymphocytes. We prospectively studied this process in 16 patients for 1 year after a single pulse of treatment with Campath-1H, a humanised anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody. We observed two phases of lymphocyte reconstitution. In the first 6 months after treatment the precursor frequency and proliferation index of the patients' autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction increased; the depleted T cell pool was dominated by memory T cells, especially (CD4+)CD25high T cells, a putative regulatory phenotype; and there was a non-significant rise in peripheral mononuclear cell FoxP3 mRNA expression and fall in constitutive cytokine mRNA expression. In the later phase, from 6-to-12 months after Campath-1H, these changes reversed and there was a rise in ROG mRNA expression. However, total CD4+ numbers remained below 50% of pre-treatment levels at 12 months, perhaps reflecting a failure in homeostasis. This was not due to an impaired IL-7 response, as in rheumatoid arthritis, nor to a lack of IL-7 receptors, which are found on fewer human (CD4+)CD25high than naive cells. We speculate that CCL21 and IL-15 responses to lymphopaenia may be suboptimal in multiple sclerosis.     

CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells down-regulate co-stimulatory molecules on antigen-presenting cells

CD4+CD25+ T cells have been shown to inhibit experimentally induced organ-specific autoimmune disease and depletion of these regulatory T cells from normal mice results in development of such conditions. Furthermore, CD4+CD25+ T cells suppress the IL-2 production and thereby the proliferation of polyclonally activated CD4+CD25- T cells in vitro. The suppression in vitro is independent of secreted factors but requires interactions between CD4+CD25- and CD4+CD25+ T cells and antigen-presenting cells (APC). We have now further investigated the function of CD4+CD25+ T cells in vitro and have focused on their interactions with APC. We found that CD4+CD25+ T cells down-regulated the expression of the co-stimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86 on dendritic cells. The steady-state level of CD80 mRNA was also decreased, while the steady-state level of CD86 mRNA was not, suggesting that distinct mechanisms regulate the expression of these molecules. The down-regulation occurred even in the presence of stimuli that would normally increase the expression of CD80 and CD86 molecules. Thus, down-regulation of co-stimulatory molecules may be an additional effector function of these regulatory T cells.