Gandhi R, Farez MF, Wang Y, Kozoriz D, Quintana FJ, Weiner HL. Cutting edge: human latency-associated peptide+ T cells: a novel regulatory T cell subset.
THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2010;
184:4620-4. [PMID:
20368276 DOI:
10.4049/jimmunol.0903329]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an important role in the maintenance of peripheral tolerance. Several molecules including TGF-beta have been linked to the function and differentiation of Tregs. In this study, we describe a unique population of T cells expressing a membrane bound form of TGF-beta, the latency-associated peptide (LAP), and having regulatory properties in human peripheral blood. These CD4(+)LAP(+) T cells lack Foxp3 but express TGF-betaR type II and the activation marker CD69. CD4(+)LAP(+) T cells are hypoproliferative compared with CD4(+)LAP(-) T cells, secrete IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IFN-gamma, and TGF-beta upon activation, and exhibit TGF-beta- and IL-10-dependent suppressive activity in vitro. The in vitro activation of CD4(+)LAP(-) T cells results in the generation of LAP(+) Tregs, which is further amplified by IL-8. In conclusion, we have characterized a novel population of human LAP(+) Tregs that is different from classic CD4(+)Foxp3(+)CD25(high) natural Tregs.
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