title: A role for IL-27 in limiting T regulatory cell populations.
abstract: IL-27 is a cytokine that regulates Th function during autoimmune and pathogen-induced immune responses. Although previous studies have shown that regulatory T cells (Tregs) express the IL-27R, and that IL-27 inhibits forkhead box P3 upregulation in vitro, little is known about how IL-27 influences Tregs in vivo. The studies presented in this article show that mice that overexpress IL-27 had decreased Treg frequencies and developed spontaneous inflammation. Although IL-27 did not cause mature Tregs to downregulate forkhead box P3, transgenic overexpression in vivo limited the size of a differentiating Treg population in a bone marrow chimera model, which correlated with reduced production of IL-2, a vital cytokine for Treg maintenance. These data identify an indirect role for IL-27 in shaping the Treg pool.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Elia D Tait
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Wojno
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hosken
authors.forename: Jason S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Stumhofer
authors.forename: Aisling C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: O'Hara
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mauldin
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Laurence A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Turka
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: Christopher A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hunter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D011828:Radiation Chimera / Q000276:immunology; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: C499601:Ebi3 protein, mouse; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; C486767:Il27 protein, mouse; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007378:Interleukins; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens; D021122:Protein Subunits; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine