title: CD8+ T regulatory cells express the Ly49 Class I MHC receptor and are defective in autoimmune prone B6-Yaa mice.
abstract: The immune system includes a subpopulation of CD8(+) T cells equipped to inhibit the expansion of follicular T helper (T(FH)) cells, resulting in suppression of autoantibody production and associated lupus-like disease. These CD8(+) T regulatory (Treg) cells recognize Qa-1/peptide complexes on target T(FH) cells and depend on the IL-15 cytokine for development and function. Here we show that these CD8(+) Treg cells express a triad of surface receptors--CD44, CD122, and the class I MHC receptor Ly49--and account for <5% of CD8(+) T cells. Moreover, the development of systemic lupus erythematosus-like disease in B6-Yaa mutant mice is associated with a pronounced defect in CD8(+) Treg cell activity, suggesting that this regulatory subset may represent an effective therapeutic approach to systemic lupus erythematosus-like autoimmune disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Immunology and AIDS, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Hye-Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Soroosh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Radfar
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Sproule
authors.forename: Derry C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Roopenian
authors.forename: Harvey
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cantor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000235:genetics*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D055650:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily A / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D055650:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily A