Gut flora antigens are not important in the maintenance of regulatory T cell heterogeneity and homeostasis.
CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Treg) are a heterogeneous population that exists as CD44(low) and CD44(high) cells. Here we report that while both CD44(low) and CD44(high) Treg are anergic and express similar levels of Foxp3, CD44(high) Treg are highly proliferative in vivo and are more potent suppressors in vitro than CD44(low) Treg. From analysis of the properties of Treg derived from germ-free mice, it was concluded that peptide antigens derived from intestinal microorganisms are not essential for the generation, in vivo proliferation or suppressive activity of Treg. Our results suggest that gut flora antigens play little or no role in the heterogeneity and homeostatic regulation of Treg.
Min
Booki
B
Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA. minb@ccf.org
Thornton
Angela
A
Caucheteux
Stephan M
SM
Younes
Souheil-Antoine
SA
Oh
Keunhee
K
Hu-Li
Jane
J
Paul
William E
WE
D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000276:immunology*; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000276:immunology; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D051379:Mice; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; C476399:Cd44 protein, mouse; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors