Plasticity of regulatory T cells: subversion of suppressive function and conversion to enhancement of lung allergic responses.
Activation of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) naturally occurring regulatory T cells (nTregs) resulting in suppression of lung allergic responses requires interaction of MHC class I on nTregs and CD8. In the absence of CD8 (CD8(-/-) recipients), transferred nTregs restored airway hyperresponsiveness, eosinophilic inflammation, and IL-13 levels following allergen exposure. Enhancement of lung allergic responses was accompanied by reduced expression of Foxp3 and increased expression of IL-13 in the transferred nTregs. In CD8(-/-) recipients pretreated with glucocorticoid-induced TNFR-related protein-ligand Ab, the transferred nTregs maintained high levels of Foxp3 and did not result in altered lung responses. Thus, the regulatory function of nTregs can be subverted by reducing the expression of Foxp3 and following signaling through glucocorticoid-induced TNFR-related protein are converted nTregs into IL-13-producing CD4(+) T cells mediating lung allergic responses.
Joetham
Anthony
A
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cell Biology, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, CO 80206, USA.
Matsubara
Shigeki
S
Okamoto
Masakazu
M
Takeda
Katsuyuki
K
Miyahara
Nobuaki
N
Dakhama
Azzeddine
A
Gelfand
Erwin W
EW
D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D053450:Glucocorticoid-Induced TNFR-Related Protein / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D016207:Cytokines; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C498833:Foxp3 protein, mouse; D053450:Glucocorticoid-Induced TNFR-Related Protein; D018793:Interleukin-13