title: Thymus exosomes-like particles induce regulatory T cells.
abstract: Exosomes released from different types of cells have been proposed to contribute to intercellular communication. We report that thymic exosome-like particles (ELPs) released from cells of the thymus can induce the development of Foxp3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells in the lung and liver. Thymic ELPs also induce the conversion of thymic CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells into Tregs. Tregs induced by thymic ELPs suppress the proliferation of CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells in vitro and in vivo. We further show that neutralization of TGF-beta in ELPs partially reverses thymic ELP-mediated induction of CD4(+)Foxp3(+) T cells in the lung and liver. This study demonstrates that thymic ELPs participate in the induction of Foxp3(+) Tregs. Also, TGF-beta of thymic ELPs might be required for the generation of Tregs in the peripheral tissues.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
authors.forename: Gui-Jun
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yuelong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Aijian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Spandan V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Zhong-bin
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Xiaoyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Ziqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Cunren
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jianhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Liming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Grizzle
authors.forename: Huang-Ge
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C498833:Foxp3 protein, mouse; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta