title: Th3 cells in peripheral tolerance. II. TGF-beta-transgenic Th3 cells rescue IL-2-deficient mice from autoimmunity.
abstract: We developed a transgenic (Tg) mouse that expresses TGF-beta under control of the IL-2 promoter to investigate Th3 cell differentiation both in vitro and in vivo. We previously found that repetitive in vitro Ag stimulation results in constant expression of Foxp3 in TGF-beta-Tg Th3 cells that acquire regulatory function independent of surface expression of CD25. To examine the differentiation and function of Th3 cells in vivo and to compare them with thymic-derived CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Treg), we introduced the TGF-beta transgene into T cells of IL-2-deficient (IL-2(-/-)) mice. We found that the induction, differentiation, and function of TGF-beta-derived Foxp3(+) Th3 cells were independent of IL-2, which differs from thymic Tregs. In an environment that lacks functional CD25(+) thymic-derived Tregs, expression of the TGF-beta transgene in IL-2(-/-) mice led to the induction of distinct CD25(-) regulatory cells in the periphery. These cells expressed Foxp3 and efficiently controlled hyperproliferation of T cells and rescued the IL-2(-/-) mouse from lethal autoimmunity. Unlike IL-2(-/-) animals, TGF-beta/IL-2(-/-) mice had normal numbers of T cells, B cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells and did not have splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, or inflammation in multiple organs. Accumulation of Foxp3(+) cells over time, however, was dependent on IL-2. Our results suggest that TGF-beta-derived Foxp3(+)CD25(+/-) Th3 regulatory cells represent a different cell lineage from thymic-derived CD25(+) Tregs in the periphery but may play an important role in maintaining thymic Tregs in the peripheral immune compartment by secretion of TGF-beta.
authors.affiliation: Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Yijun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Carrier
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Vijay K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Kuchroo
authors.forename: Howard L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Weiner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000235:genetics*; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005804:Genes, Lethal; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000032:analysis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D017634:Self Tolerance / Q000235:genetics*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C498833:Foxp3 protein, mouse; D007376:Interleukin-2; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta