Peripheral CD8+CD25+ T lymphocytes from MHC class II-deficient mice exhibit regulatory activity.
We characterized CD8(+) T cells constitutively expressing CD25 in mice lacking the expression of MHC class II molecules. We showed that these cells are present not only in the periphery but also in the thymus. Like CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells, CD8(+)CD25(+) T cells appear late in the periphery during ontogeny. Peripheral CD8(+)CD25(+) T cells from MHC class II-deficient mice also share phenotypic and functional features with regulatory CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells: in particular, they strongly express glucocorticoid-induced TNFR family-related gene, CTLA-4 and Foxp3, produce IL-10, and inhibit CD25(-) T cell responses to anti-CD3 stimulation through cell contacts with similar efficiency to CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells. However, unlike CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells CD8(+)CD25(+) T cells from MHC class II-deficient mice strongly proliferate and produce IFN-gamma in vitro in response to stimulation in the absence of exogenous IL-2.
Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U561, Hôpital Saint Vincent de Paul, Paris, France.
Boris
B
Bienvenu
Bruno
B
Martin
Cédric
C
Auffray
Corinne
C
Cordier
Chantal
C
Bécourt
Bruno
B
Lucas
D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D015870:Gene Expression; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010641:Phenotype; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
D016207:Cytokines; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C498833:Foxp3 protein, mouse; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D007371:Interferon-gamma