title: Cutting edge: size and diversity of CD4+CD25high Foxp3+ regulatory T cell repertoire in humans: evidence for similarities and partial overlapping with CD4+CD25- T cells.
abstract: Both differentiation and function of CD4+CD25(high) naturally arising regulatory T cells (Treg), which play a key role in the control of autoimmunity, are thought to depend on TCR specificity. In the present study, we comparatively measured the alphabetaTCR repertoire sizes of human peripheral blood Treg and CD4+CD25- T cells by using a methodology based on PCR amplification and sequencing analysis. We show that Treg use a large unrestricted alphabeta TCR repertoire, the size and diversity of which are closely similar to those of CD4+CD25- T cells, with a mean estimated size of 3.5 x 10(6) distinct alphabeta TCR vs 4.7 x 10(6) distinct alphabetaTCR for CD4+CD25- T cells. In addition, a 24% overlap between the repertoires of these two CD4+ subsets in the periphery is found. These data emphasize the intersection between naturally occurring Treg and effector T cell peripheral repertoires and provide new insights into the ontogeny of Treg in humans.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Recherche et d'Expertise Immunité Anti-virale, Biothérapie et Vaccins, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U668, Institut Pasteur, France. nicolas@scripps.edu
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fazilleau
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bachelez
authors.forename: Marie-Lise
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gougeon
authors.forename: Manuelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viguier
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002469:Cell Separation; D048429:Cell Size; D002999:Clone Cells; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015333:Gene Rearrangement, beta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000172:deficiency; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*