Regulatory CD4+ T cells are crucial for preventing CD8+ T cell-mediated autoimmunity.
In vivo studies have shown that regulatory CD4(+) T cells regulate conventional CD4(+) T cell responses to self- and environmental Ags. However, it remains unclear whether regulatory CD4(+) T cells control CD8(+) T cell responses to self, directly, or indirectly by decreasing available CD4(+) T cell help. We have developed an experimental mouse model in which suppressive and helper T cells cannot mediate their functions. The mouse chimeras generated were not viable and rapidly developed multiple organ autoimmunity. These features were correlated with strong CD8(+) T cell activation and accumulation in both lymphoid and nonlymphoid organs. In vivo Ab treatment and secondary transfer experiments demonstrated that regulatory CD4(+) T cells play an important direct role in the prevention of peripheral CD8(+) T cell-mediated autoimmunity.
Poitrasson-Rivière
Maud
M
Institut Cochin, Université Paris Descartes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 8104, Paris.
Bienvenu
Boris
B
Le Campion
Armelle
A
Bécourt
Chantal
C
Martin
Bruno
B
Lucas
Bruno
B
D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D017634:Self Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C498833:Foxp3 protein, mouse