CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells selectively diminish systemic autoreactivity in arthritic K/BxN mice.
Although the arthritis symptoms observed in the K/BxN model have been shown to be dependent on the functions of T and B cells specific to the self antigen glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, less is known about the in vivo roles of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T (T(reg)) cells in the pathology of K/BxN mice. We determined the quantitative and functional characteristics of the T(reg) cells in K/BxN mice. These mice contained a higher percentage of Foxp3(+) T(reg) cells among the CD4(+) T cells than their BxN littermates. These T(reg) cells were anergic and efficiently suppressed the proliferation of naïve CD4(+) T cells and cytokine production by effector CD4(+) T cells in vitro. Antibody-mediated depletion of CD25(+) cells caused K/BxN mice to develop multi-organ inflammation and autoantibody production, while the symptoms of arthritis were not affected. These results demonstrate that despite the inability of the T(reg) cells to suppress arthritis development, they play a critical role protecting the arthritic mice from systemic expansion of autoimmunity.
Kang
Sang Mee
SM
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul 133-791, Korea.
Jang
Eunkyeong
E
Paik
Doo-Jin
DJ
Jang
Young-Ju
YJ
Youn
Jeehee
J
D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000378:metabolism; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit