title: The development and function of memory regulatory T cells after acute viral infections.
abstract: Natural CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are critical for the control of immune responses to pathogens. However, most studies have focused on chronic infections, in which pathogen-specific Tregs contribute to pathogen persistence and, in some cases, concomitant immunity. How Tregs behave and function following acute infections remains largely unknown. In this article, we show that pathogen-specific Tregs can be activated and expand upon acute viral infections in vivo. The activated Tregs then contract to form a memory pool after resolution of the infection. These memory Tregs expand rapidly upon a secondary challenge, secrete large amounts of IL-10, and suppress excessive immunopathological conditions elicited by recall expansion of non-Tregs via an IL-10-dependent mechanism. Our work reveals a memory Treg population that develops after acute viral infections and may help in the design of effective strategies to circumvent excessive immunopathological effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Jiangao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Xiaopei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yiping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D055879:Gene Knock-In Techniques; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000235:genetics; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000502:physiology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006388:Hemagglutinins; C556062:IL10 protein, mouse; D016753:Interleukin-10