title: Forkhead-box transcription factor 1 affects the apoptosis of natural regulatory T cells by controlling Aven expression.
abstract: Regulatory T (Treg) cells play important roles in autoimmune diseases, cancer, and organ transplantation. Forkhead box protein o1 (Foxo1) and IL-7Rα(CD127) are closely related to the homeostasis of Treg cells. However, the mechanism underlying Treg proliferation and activation remains unclear. Here, we evaluated how the over-expression of Foxo1 affects Treg cell proliferation via intracellular signaling. nTreg cells were transfected separately with Foxo1 and Aven small-interfering RNA (siRNA) or over-expression plasmid. The expression of signaling pathway genes and CD127 was confirmed using RT-qPCR and western blot analysis. The expression of cell surface molecules and apoptosis was confirmed by Flow Cytometry 3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl) 2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide for cell proliferation assays.
  
  
  
  Foxo1 strengthened the proliferative ability of Treg cells by activating IL-7/CD127 signaling. In addition, Foxo1 suppressed Treg cell apoptosis by regulating Aven expression.
  
  
  
  The results in this study indicated that Foxo1 is a positive regulatory factor for the proliferation and activity of Treg cells. Foxo1 might be a potential target for the activation of nTreg cells in vivo and in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhitao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, People's Republic of China. lhzhm12@163.com.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, People's Republic of China. wuxfei@126.com.
authors.forename: Xiongfei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000071161:Forkhead Box Protein O1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006706:Homeostasis; D053699:Interleukin-7 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C000623107:Aven protein, mouse; D000071161:Forkhead Box Protein O1; C467200:Foxo1 protein, mouse; D053699:Interleukin-7 Receptor alpha Subunit; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering
keywords: Apoptosis; Aven; Foxo1; Treg cells