Human CD4- 8- T cells are a distinctive immunoregulatory subset.
Human CD4(-)8(-) T cells are a minor subset quantitatively but potentially important in immunity because they are predominantly distributed at body surfaces, and their number and activities increase in autoimmune diseases and decrease with aging. Distinguishing characteristics of CD4(-)8(-) T cells are found to include a unique profile of cytokines, including Serpin E1, which is not generated by other T cells, MIF, and TGF-beta. At 2-5% of the total in mixtures with CD4 + CD8 T cells, CD4(-)8(-) T cells enhance the generation of IFN-gamma and IL-17 by up to 12- and 5-fold, respectively, without contributing either cytokine or affecting cytokine production by NK/NKT cells. CD4(-)8(-) T cell-derived MIF is their major enhancer and TGFbeta their principal inhibitor of CD4 and CD8 T cell cytokine production. Decreases in CD4(-)8(-) T cell effects may diminish protective immunity in aging, whereas increases may augment the severity of autoimmune diseases.
Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
Mei-Chuan
MC
Huang
Kalpesh
K
Patel
Dennis D
DD
Taub
Dan L
DL
Longo
Edward J
EJ
Goetzl
D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; C515598:MIF protein, human