CD44 expression positively correlates with Foxp3 expression and suppressive function of CD4+ Treg cells.
BACKGROUND
CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T (T(reg)) cells develop in the thymus and can suppress T cell proliferation, modulated by Foxp3 and cytokines; however, the relevance of CD44 in T(reg) cell development is less clear. To address this issue, we analyzed Foxp3 expression in CD44(+) T(reg) cells by using multiple parameters, measured the levels of the immunoregulatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-10 in various thymocyte subsets, and determined the suppressor activity in different splenic T(reg) cell populations.


RESULTS
Within mouse thymocytes, we detected T(reg) cells with two novel phenotypes, namely the CD4(+)CD8(-)CD25(+)CD44(+) and CD4(+)CD8(-)CD25(+)CD44(-)staining features. Additional multi-parameter analyses at the single-cell and molecular levels suggested to us that CD44 expression positively correlated with Foxp3 expression in thymocytes, the production of IL-10, and T(reg) activity in splenic CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells. This suppressive effect of T(reg) cells on T cell proliferation could be blocked by using anti-IL-10 neutralizing antibodies. In addition, CD4(+)CD25(+)CD44(+) T(reg) cells expressed higher levels of IL-10 and were more potent in suppressing effector T cell proliferation than were CD4(+)CD25(+)CD44(-) cells.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates the presence of two novel phenotypes of T(reg) cells in the thymus, the functional relevance of CD44 in defining T(reg) cell subsets, and the role of both IL-10 and Foxp3 in modulating the function of T(reg) cells.


METHODS
This article was reviewed by Dr. M. Lenardo, Dr. L. Klein & G. Wirnsberger (nominated by Dr. JC Zungia-Pfluker), and Dr. E.M. Shevach.
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA. tieliu@utmb.edu
Tie
T
Liu
Lynn
L
Soong
Gang
G
Liu
Rolf
R
König
Ashok K
AK
Chopra
D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000276:immunology*; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000276:immunology*; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000276:immunology; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000276:immunology; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000276:immunology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C498833:Foxp3 protein, mouse; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016753:Interleukin-10