Comparative study of regulatory T cell function of human CD25CD4 T cells from thymocytes, cord blood, and adult peripheral blood.
CD25(+)CD4(+) regulatory T cells suppress T cell activation and regulate multiple immune reactions in in vitro and in vivo studies. To define the regulatory function of human CD25(+)CD4(+) T cells at various stages of maturity, we investigated in detail the functional differences of CD25(+)CD4(+) T cells from thymocytes, cord blood (CB), and adult peripheral blood (APB). CB CD25(+)CD4(+) T cells displayed low-FOXP3 protein expression level and had no suppressive activity. In contrast, CD25(+)CD4(+) T cells from thymocytes or APB expressed high expression level of FOXP3 protein associated with significant suppressive activity. Although CB CD25(+)CD4(+) T cells exhibited no suppressive activity, striking suppressive activity was observed following expansion in culture associated with increased FOXP3 expression and a shift from the CD45RA(+) to the CD45RA(-) phenotype. These functional differences in CD25(+)CD4(+) T cells from Thy, CB, and APB hence suggest a pathway of maturation for Treg in the peripheral immune system.
Fujimaki
Wakae
W
Division of Clinical Immunology, Advanced Clinical Research Center, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan.
Takahashi
Nozomu
N
Ohnuma
Kei
K
Nagatsu
Masayoshi
M
Kurosawa
Hiromi
H
Yoshida
Satoko
S
Dang
Nam H
NH
Uchiyama
Takehiko
T
Morimoto
Chikao
C
D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000276:immunology*; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens