title: The sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor agonist FTY720 and its phosphorylated             form affect the function of CD4+CD25+ T cells in vitro.
abstract: The sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor agonist FTY720 and FTY720-P have a wide variety of fundamental functions. Many studies have demonstrated that CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells engage in the maintenance of immunological self-tolerance by actively suppressing self-reactive lymphocytes. Although FTY720 has also recently shown to possess an additional effect that increases the functional activity of Treg cells, the mechanism leading to the enhanced Treg activity after FTY720 treatment is still not clear. We isolated Treg cells, which were co-cultured with FTY720 or FTY720-P. The proliferation of co-cultured Treg cells was detected by the cell counting kit-8. The changes of the phenotype CD25+ and forkhead box P3 (Foxp3)+ of co-cultured Treg cells were measured by flow cytometry. The levels of IL-10 and TGF-β1 in the supernatants were detected by Elisa. Cytokine mRNA expressions in co-cultured Treg cells were analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR. Mixed lymphocyte reaction assay examined the suppressive function. We found that neither FTY720 nor FTY720-P affected the proliferation of co-cultured Treg cells. The percentages of CD25+ and Foxp3+ were enhanced in the high-dose FTY720-P group. The levels of TGF-β1 in the supernatants were enhanced in the high-dose FTY720 group. Medium and high-dose FTY720-P also enhanced the levels of TGF-β1. TGF-β1 and Foxp3 mRNA expression were upregulated in the high-dose FTY720-P group. The proliferation of effector T (Teff) cells was suppressed significantly in the medium and high-dose FTY720-P group at a Treg/Teff cell ratio of 1:1. At a ratio of 1:1, the proliferation of Teff cells was also suppressed in the high-dose FTY720 group. It can be concluded that high-dose FTY720-P can enhance the immune function of co-cultured Treg cells, and that medium-dose FTY720-P and high-dose FTY720 could partly enhance the function. The reason may be attributed to enhanced levels of TGF-β1 and Foxp3.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing,                     P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jingjing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: He
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Xiaokui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yubo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Yifei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010755:Organophosphates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011409:Propylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D049349:Receptors, Lysosphingolipid / Q000819:agonists* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013110:Sphingosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C525008:FTY 720P; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C498833:Foxp3 protein, mouse; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010755:Organophosphates; D011409:Propylene Glycols; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D049349:Receptors, Lysosphingolipid; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016753:Interleukin-10; D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride; D013110:Sphingosine