title: Accumulation of T cells with potent regulatory properties and restricted Vbeta7-TCR rearrangements in tolerated allografts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We have previously demonstrated that a short-course treatment with LF15-0195, a 15-deoxyspergualin analogue, induces donor-specific tolerance of cardiac allografts in rats and expansion of splenic CD4CD25 regulatory T cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  To further characterize long-term tolerance in this model, we have analyzed the phenotype, regulatory properties and TCR-Vbeta usage of the T cells infiltrating the tolerated allografts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We demonstrate that the tolerated allografts express high levels of FoxP3 transcripts and contain a large number of CD4 T cells, half of which express CD25. Moreover, T cells from these tolerated allografts are very powerful at transferring tolerance to a subsequent allograft recipient, demonstrating the presence of potent regulatory T cells at the site of the graft. Interestingly, the T cells infiltrating the tolerated allografts systematically display restricted Vbeta7 TCR rearrangements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate in this model of tolerance, a specific accumulation of T cells with potent regulatory properties and exhibiting restricted Vbeta7-TCR rearrangements at the graft site.
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale Unité 643 (INSERM U643) and Institut de Transplantation Et de Recherche en Transplantation, CHU Hotel Dieu, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Heslan
authors.forename: Gaëlle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Beriou
authors.forename: Jean-Benoît
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Le Luduec
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guillonneau
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Anegon
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Soulillou
authors.forename: Maria-Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cuturi
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chiffoleau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015333:Gene Rearrangement, beta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor / Q000276:immunology*; D006146:Guanidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000502:physiology*; D023001:Transplantation Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006146:Guanidines; C434185:LF 150195; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta