CD4+CD25+ T regulatory cells limit effector T cells and favor the progression of brucellosis in BALB/c mice.
Brucellosis is one of the most common bacterial zoonoses worldwide. Infection is usually chronic and sometimes lifelong. Different mechanisms can be postulated as to the basis for the induction of the chronic status of brucellosis, but a comprehensive knowledge is still lacking. Here, we carried out a series of experiments in order to assess if the persistence of Brucella abortus could be ascribed to the effect of a down regulation of the immune response due to activity of regulatory T cells. We demonstrate that CD4+CD25+T regulatory cells are able to limit the effectiveness of CD4+T cells and are able to favor the maintenance and the progression of B. abortus infection.
Pasquali
Paolo
P
Department of Food Safety and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy. paolo.pasquali@iss.it
Thornton
Angela M
AM
Vendetti
Silvia
S
Pistoia
Claudia
C
Petrucci
Paola
P
Tarantino
Michela
M
Pesciaroli
Michele
M
Ruggeri
Franco
F
Battistoni
Andrea
A
Shevach
Ethan M
EM
D000818:Animals; D002003:Brucella abortus / Q000276:immunology*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit