title: Phenotypic and functional characterization of freshly isolated and expanded canine regulatory T cells.
abstract: Regulatory T cells (T(reg)) are CD4(+) T lymphocytes with constitutive expression of CD25 and FOXP3, as well as the ability to modulate cellular immune responses. In this study, the phenotypic characteristics, function and feasibility of enrichment and expansion of canine T(reg) were examined. Canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and enriched by labelling of CD25, and expansion of T(reg) was achieved by adding interleukin (IL)-2 for 1 week. Phenotypic and functional analyses of T(reg) were performed prior to and after expansion. Canine T(reg) could be phenotypically characterized by CD4, CD25, and FOXP3 expression. Isolation and enrichment of canine T(reg) is possible, but high purities are difficult to achieve without significant cell loss. Expansion of canine T(reg) was possible by adding IL-2 without other growth factors. Higher initial cell numbers seeded allow more substantial T(reg) expansion in vitro. Canine T(reg) have the potential to suppress proliferation of effector T cells (T(eff)). By adding expanded T(reg), a higher capability for suppressing T(eff) could be shown in comparison with freshly isolated T(reg). Enrichment and expansion of canine T(reg) is feasible, and canine T(reg) had similar characteristics to T(reg) from other species.
authors: Division of Medicine, Department of Hematology/Oncology/Palliative Care, University of Rostock, Ernst-Heydemann Strasse, 18055 Rostock, Germany.
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Knueppel
authors: Sandra
authors: S
authors: Lange
authors: Anett
authors: A
authors: Sekora
authors: Simone
authors: S
authors: Altmann
authors: Mathias
authors: M
authors: Freund
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Junghanss
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004285:Dogs; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D007376:Interleukin-2; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010641:Phenotype; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D007376:Interleukin-2; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit