Functional delineation and differentiation dynamics of human CD4+ T cells expressing the FoxP3 transcription factor.
FoxP3 is a key transcription factor for the development and function of natural CD4(+) regulatory T cells (Treg cells). Here we show that human FoxP3(+)CD4(+) T cells were composed of three phenotypically and functionally distinct subpopulations: CD45RA(+)FoxP3(lo) resting Treg cells (rTreg cells) and CD45RA(-)FoxP3(hi) activated Treg cells (aTreg cells), both of which were suppressive in vitro, and cytokine-secreting CD45RA(-)FoxP3(lo) nonsuppressive T cells. The proportion of the three subpopulations differed between cord blood, aged individuals, and patients with immunological diseases. Terminally differentiated aTreg cells rapidly died whereas rTreg cells proliferated and converted into aTreg cells in vitro and in vivo. This was shown by the transfer of rTreg cells into NOD-scid-common gamma-chain-deficient mice and by TCR sequence-based T cell clonotype tracing in peripheral blood in a normal individual. Taken together, the dissection of FoxP3(+) cells into subsets enables one to analyze Treg cell differentiation dynamics and interactions in normal and disease states, and to control immune responses through manipulating particular FoxP3(+) subpopulations.
Miyara
Makoto
M
Department of Experimental Pathology, Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Yoshioka
Yumiko
Y
Kitoh
Akihiko
A
Shima
Tomoko
T
Wing
Kajsa
K
Niwa
Akira
A
Parizot
Christophe
C
Taflin
Cécile
C
Heike
Toshio
T
Valeyre
Dominique
D
Mathian
Alexis
A
Nakahata
Tatsutoshi
T
Yamaguchi
Tomoyuki
T
Nomura
Takashi
T
Ono
Masahiro
M
Amoura
Zahir
Z
Gorochov
Guy
G
Sakaguchi
Shimon
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / 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