title: Large-scale in vitro expansion of polyclonal human CD4(+)CD25high regulatory T cells.
abstract: CD4(+)CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells are pivotal for the maintenance of self-tolerance, and their adoptive transfer gives protection from autoimmune diseases and pathogenic alloresponses after solid organ or bone marrow transplantation in murine model systems. In vitro, human CD4(+)CD25+ Treg cells display phenotypic and functional characteristics similar to those of murine CD4(+)CD25+ Treg cells: namely, hyporesponsiveness to T-cell receptor (TCR) stimulation and suppression of CD25- T cells. Thus far, the detailed characterization and potential clinical application of human CD4(+)CD25+ Treg cells have been hampered by their paucity in peripheral blood and the lack of appropriate expansion protocols. Here we describe the up to 40 000-fold expansion of highly purified human CD4(+)CD25high T cells in vitro through the use of artificial antigen-presenting cells for repeated stimulation via CD3 and CD28 in the presence of high-dose interleukin 2 (IL-2). Expanded CD4(+)CD25high T cells were polyclonal, maintained their phenotype, exceeded the suppressive activity of freshly isolated CD4(+)CD25high T cells, and maintained expression of the lymph node homing receptors L-selectin (CD62L) and CCR7. The ability to rapidly expand human CD4(+)CD25high Treg cells on a large scale will not only facilitate their further exploration but also accelerate their potential clinical application in T cell-mediated diseases and transplantation medicine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Ruediger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Eder
authors.forename: Leoni A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Kunz-Schughart
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andreesen
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Edinger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007739:L Cells; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D051379:Mice; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2