title: CD4+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in autoimmune orchitis: phenotypic and functional characterization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The phenotype and function of regulatory T (Treg) cells in rats with experimental autoimmune orchitis (EAO) was evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Distribution of Treg cells in draining lymph nodes from the testis (TLN) and from the site of immunization (ILN) was analysed by immunohistochemistry. The number, phenotype and proliferative response (5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation) of Treg cells were evaluated by flow cytometry and Treg cell suppressive activity by in vitro experiments. TGF-β expression was evaluated by immunofluorescence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Absolute numbers of Treg cells and BrdU+ Treg cells were increased in LN from experimental compared to normal and control rats. These cells displayed a CD45RC(-), CD62L(-), Helios(+) phenotype. CD4(+) CD25(bright) T cells from TLN of experimental rats were able to suppress T cell-proliferation more efficiently than those derived from normal and control rats. Cells isolated from TLN and ILN expressed TGF-β.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that Treg cells with a memory/activated phenotype proliferate extensively in the inflamed testis and LN of rats with EAO exhibiting an enhanced suppressive capacity. TGF-β may be involved in their suppressive mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas UBA-CONICET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jacobo
authors.forename: Vanesa A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Guazzone
authors.forename: Cecilia V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lustig
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D009920:Orchitis / Q000276:immunology*; D010641:Phenotype; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D013737:Testis / Q000276:immunology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C500522:Foxp3 protein, rat; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta
keywords: Immunoregulation; inflammation; testis