title: Analysis of human FOXP3+ Treg cells phenotype and function.
abstract: Naturally occurring regulatory T (nT( Reg )) cells play a critical role in the establishment of immunological self-tolerance in humans. Currently, the analysis of nT( Reg ) cell function from bulk PBMC has led to discrepancies, largely due to the failure to discriminate T( Reg ) cells from other antigen-experienced CD4(+) T cells in states of inflammation. We developed a novel, multiparametric, single-cell strategy approach, which consists of isolating and expanding individual CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells into clones, in turn allowing us to discriminate bona fide T( Reg ) cells from activated, FOXP3(+) T( Eff ) cells, which frequently confound bulk CD25(High) T( Reg ) functional assays. This approach enabled us to compare their phenotype and function at the single-cell level and to uncover the functional heterogeneity that exists among the CD4(+)FOXP3(+) T( Reg ) cell population in human PBMC.
authors.affiliation: Center for the Study of Host Resistance, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: d'Hennezel
authors.forename: Ciriaco A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Piccirillo
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002469:Cell Separation; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology; D059010:Single-Cell Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors