A novel human CD4+ T-cell inducer subset with potent immunostimulatory properties.
The complexity of immunoregulation has focused attention on the CD4+ T "suppressor" regulatory cell (Treg), which helps maintain balance between immunity and tolerance. An immunoregulatory T-cell population that upon activation amplifies cellular immune responses was described in murine models more than 30 years ago; however, no study has yet identified a naturally occurring T "inducer" cell type. Here, we report that the ectoenzyme CD39/NTPDase1 (ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 1) helps to delineate a novel population of human "inducer" CD4+ T cells (Tind) that significantly increases the proliferation and cytokine production of responder T cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, this unique Tind subset produces a distinct repertoire of cytokines in comparison to the other CD4+ T-cell subsets. We propose that this novel CD4+ T-cell population counterbalances the suppressive activity of suppressor Treg in peripheral blood and serves as a calibrator of immunoregulation.
Ndhlovu
Lishomwa C
LC
Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, and HIV/AIDS Division, San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA. lndhlovu@medsfgh.ucsf.edu
Leal
Fabio E
FE
Eccles-James
Ijeoma G
IG
Jha
Aashish R
AR
Lanteri
Marion
M
Norris
Philip J
PJ
Barbour
Jason D
JD
Wachter
Douglas J
DJ
Andersson
Jan
J
Taskén
Kjetil
K
Torheim
Eirik A
EA
Aandahl
Einar M
EM
Kallas
Esper G
EG
Nixon
Douglas F
DF
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology*; D001081:Apyrase / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D016207:Cytokines; D001081:Apyrase; C067869:CD39 antigen