LPS-activated monocytes suppress T-cell immune responses and induce FOXP3+ T cells through a COX-2-PGE2-dependent mechanism.
Monocytes initiate innate immune responses and interact with T cells to induce antigen-specific immune responses by antigen presentation and secretion of humoral factors. We have previously shown that adaptive regulatory T cells inhibit T-cell effector functions in a cyclooxygenase (COX)-2-prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2))-dependent manner and that PGE(2) converts resting CD4+CD25- T cells into FOXP3+ T cells with a suppressive phenotype. Here, we demonstrate that stimulation of monocytes with LPS leads to suppression of T-cell immune responses by a COX-2-PGE(2)-dependent mechanism that is reversible with COX-2 inhibitors as well as PGE(2)-neutralizing antibody and cAMP antagonist. Furthermore, we show that LPS-activated monocytes induce FOXP3 expression in resting CD4+CD25- T cells by the same pathway. These results suggest that monocytes are able to efficiently suppress T-cell immune responses in a regulatory manner and elicit an inhibitory immune profile.
D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism*; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000172:deficiency; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D015232:Dinoprostone