title: Plasmodium yoelii infection of BALB/c mice results in expansion rather than induction of CD4(+) Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells.
abstract: Recently, we demonstrated elevated numbers of CD4(+) Foxp3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells in Plasmodium yoelii-infected mice contributing to the regulation of anti-malarial immune response. However, it remains unclear whether this increase in Treg cells is due to thymus-derived Treg cell expansion or induction of Treg cells in the periphery. Here, we show that the frequency of Foxp3(+) Treg cells expressing neuropilin-1 (Nrp-1) decreased at early time-points during P. yoelii infection, whereas percentages of Helios(+) Foxp3(+) Treg cells remained unchanged. Both Foxp3(+) Nrp-1(+) and Foxp3(+) Nrp-1(-) Treg cells from P. yoelii-infected mice exhibited a similar T-cell receptor Vβ chain usage and methylation pattern in the Treg-specific demethylation region within the foxp3 locus. Strikingly, we did not observe induction of Foxp3 expression in Foxp3(-) T cells adoptively transferred to P. yoelii-infected mice. Hence, our results suggest that P. yoelii infection triggered expansion of naturally occurring Treg cells rather than de novo induction of Foxp3(+) Treg cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ueffing
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tatura
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hutzler
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hose
authors.affiliation: Parasitology Unit, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matuschewski
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kehrmann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Astrid M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Westendorf
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Wiebke
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019175:DNA Methylation; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008288:Malaria / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D039942:Neuropilin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D010967:Plasmodium yoelii / Q000276:immunology*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C498833:Foxp3 protein, mouse; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D039942:Neuropilin-1
keywords: parasitic protozoan; regulatory T cells; rodent