title: Natural regulatory T cells from patients with end-stage renal disease can be used for large-scale generation of highly suppressive alloantigen-specific Tregs.
abstract: Natural occurring regulatory T cells (nTregs) have the potential to offer a targeted approach of immunosuppression and are the cell type of interest for inducing tolerance in kidney transplantation. End-stage renal disease (ESRD) profoundly affects the composition and function of circulating T cells but little is known with respect to how nTreg potential is affected. To address this, nTregs of patients with ESRD (on dialysis or not) and healthy individuals were isolated, expanded using allogeneic mature monocyte-derived dendritic cells followed by anti-CD3/anti-CD28-coated beads and the different nTregs were extensively characterized by the demethylation status of the Treg-specific demethylated region within FOXP3 and expression of typical nTreg markers. Additionally, the suppressive capacity as well as cytokine producing cells were analyzed for allogeneic mature monocyte-derived dendritic cell-expanded nTregs. Compared to age- and gender-matched healthy individuals, similar frequencies of nTregs were present within the circulation of patients with ESRD either on dialysis or not. The isolated nTregs could be equally well or even better expanded using allogeneic mature monocyte-derived dendritic cells and extensive characterization did not reveal significant differences. The demethylation status of the Treg-specific demethylated region was maintained or even further promoted as was the expression of markers characteristic for nTregs. Moreover, suppressive capacity and the cytokine profile of allogeneic mature monocyte-derived dendritic cell-expanded nTregs was similar to that of healthy individuals. Thus, circulating nTregs of patients with ESRD can effectively be expanded to stable allo antigen-specific nTregs with potential clinical applicability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address: n.litjens@erasmusmc.nl.
authors.forename: Nicolle H R
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Litjens
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boer
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Joke M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zuijderwijk
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Mariska
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klepper
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Annemiek M A
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Peeters
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wenda
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Verschoor
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rens
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kraaijeveld
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Michiel G H
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Betjes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D007519:Isoantigens; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008745:Methylation; D008875:Middle Aged; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D007519:Isoantigens
keywords: chronic kidney disease; cytokines; lymphocytes; tolerance