Development and function of agonist-induced CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in the absence of interleukin 2 signaling.
Interleukin 2 signaling is believed to be critically involved in several aspects of CD25(+) CD4(+) regulatory T cell biology, such as intrathymic development, peripheral survival and suppressive function. Here we have analyzed the effects of interleukin 2 or CD25 deficiency on agonist-driven thymic development and the peripheral homeostasis of an antigen-specific population of regulatory T cells positive for forkhead family transcription factor Foxp3 and have correlated our observations with polyclonal suppressor populations. We found that the differentiation, acquisition of functional capacity and formation of a sizeable pool of suppressor T cells in the thymus was independent of interleukin 2 signaling, but that interleukin 2 was essential for the survival of mature Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells.
D'Cruz
Louise M
LM
Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, 1030 Vienna, Austria.
Klein
Ludger
L
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C498833:Foxp3 protein, mouse; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2