Expression of CD39 by human peripheral blood CD4+ CD25+ T cells denotes a regulatory memory phenotype.
We have shown that CD39 and CD73 are coexpressed on the surface of murine CD4+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) and generate extracellular adenosine, contributing to Treg immunosuppressive activity. We now describe that CD39, independently of CD73, is expressed by a subset of blood-derived human CD4+ CD25+ CD127lo Treg, defined by robust expression of Foxp3. A further distinct population of CD4+ CD39+ T lymphocytes can be identified, which do not express CD25 and FoxP3 and exhibit the memory effector cellular phenotype. Differential expression of CD25 and CD39 on circulating CD4+ T cells distinguishes between Treg and pathogenic cellular populations that secrete proinflammatory cytokines such as IFNγ and IL-17. These latter cell populations are increased, with a concomitant decrease in the CD4+ CD25+ CD39+ Tregs, in the peripheral blood of patients with renal allograft rejection. We conclude that the ectonucleotidase CD39 is a useful and dynamic lymphocytes surface marker that can be used to identify different peripheral blood T cell-populations to allow tracking of these in health and disease, as in renal allograft rejection.
Dwyer
K M
KM
Immunology Research Centre, Department of Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Hanidziar
D
D
Putheti
P
P
Hill
P A
PA
Pommey
S
S
McRae
J L
JL
Winterhalter
A
A
Doherty
G
G
Deaglio
S
S
Koulmanda
M
M
Gao
W
W
Robson
S C
SC
Strom
T B
TB
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001081:Apyrase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000276:immunology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000276:immunology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D010641:Phenotype; D011755:Pyrophosphatases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015704:CD4 Antigens; C508717:IL17A protein, human; C508017:IL2RA protein, human; D020381:Interleukin-17; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D011755:Pyrophosphatases; C092064:ectonucleotide pyrophosphohydrolase; D001081:Apyrase; C067869:CD39 antigen