Regulatory T cells overexpress a subset of Th2 gene transcripts.
There is now compelling evidence for subpopulations of CD4+ T cells whose role is to prevent immune pathology in both autoimmunity and transplantation. We have cloned CD4+ T cells against a male transplantation Ag that, unlike Th1 or Th2 clones, suppresses the rejection of male skin grafts and are therefore considered examples of regulatory T cells. We have identified, using serial analysis of gene expression, transcripts that are overexpressed in regulatory T cells compared with Th1 and Th2 clones. Some of these transcripts are increased in tolerated rather than rejecting skin grafts and in addition are expressed by the natural regulatory CD4+CD25+ subpopulation of naive mice. These genes include prepro-enkephalin, GM2 ganglioside activator protein, glucocorticoid-induced TNFR superfamily member 18, and integrin alpha(E)beta(7). They seem to represent a subset of transcripts shared with Th2 cells, suggesting that transplantation tolerance and normal immunoregulation may represent a unique form of Th2-like differentiation.
Zelenika
Diana
D
Therapeutic Immunology Group, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK.
Adams
Elizabeth
E
Humm
Sue
S
Graca
Luis
L
Thompson
Sara
S
Cobbold
Stephen P
SP
Waldmann
Herman
H
D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation; D002999:Clone Cells; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology*; D015723:Gene Library; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000637:transplantation; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000637:transplantation; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000276:immunology*; D023001:Transplantation Tolerance / Q000235:genetics
D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte