Neuropilin-1: a surface marker of regulatory T cells.
CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg cells) control immune responsiveness to a large variety of antigens. The isolation and therapeutic manipulation of Treg cells requires the use of reliable surface receptors that are selectively up-regulated in Treg cells. On the basis of global gene expression studies, we identified neuropilin-1 (Nrp1) as a specific surface marker for CD4+CD25+ Treg cells. Nrp1, a receptor involved in axon guidance, angiogenesis, and the activation of T cells, is constitutively expressed on the surface of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells independently of their activation status. In contrast, Nrp1 expression is down-regulated in naive CD4+CD25- T cells after TCR stimulation. Furthermore, CD4+Nrp1(high) T cells express high levels of Foxp3 and suppress CD4+CD25- T cells. Thus, Nrp1 constitutes a useful surface marker to distinguish Treg cells from both naive and recently activated CD4+CD25+ non-regulatory T cells.
Department of Cell Biology and Immunology, German Research Centre for Biotechnology, Braunschweig, Germany.
Dunja
D
Bruder
Department of Visceral and Transplant Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Michael
M
Probst-Kepper
Department of Cell Biology and Immunology, German Research Centre for Biotechnology, Braunschweig, Germany.
Astrid M
AM
Westendorf
Department of Cell Biology and Immunology, German Research Centre for Biotechnology, Braunschweig, Germany.
Robert
R
Geffers
Department of Dermatology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
Stefan
S
Beissert
Department of Dermatology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
Karin
K
Loser
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
Harald
H
von Boehmer
Department of Cell Biology and Immunology, German Research Centre for Biotechnology, Braunschweig, Germany.|Institute of Medical Microbiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Jan
J
Buer
Department of Cell Biology and Immunology, German Research Centre for Biotechnology, Braunschweig, Germany.
Wiebke
W
Hansen
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D039942:Neuropilin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology
D015415:Biomarkers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C498833:Foxp3 protein, mouse; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D039942:Neuropilin-1