High TCR diversity ensures optimal function and homeostasis of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells

Type 1 Diabetes Brazilian patients exhibit reduced frequency of recent thymic emigrants in regulatory CD4+CD25+Foxp3+T cells

To control immune responses, regulatory CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells (Treg) maintain their wide and diverse repertoire through continuous arrival of recent thymic emigrants (RTE). However, during puberty, the activity of RTE starts to decline as a natural process of thymic involution, introducing consequences, not completely described, to the repertoire. Type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients show quantitative and qualitative impairments on the Treg cells. Our aim was to evaluate peripheral Treg and RTE cell frequencies, in T1D patients from two distinct age groups (young and adults) and verify if HLA phenotypes are concomitant associated. To this, blood samples from Brazilian twenty established T1D patients (12 young and 8 adults) and twenty-one healthy controls (11 young and 10 adults) were analyzed, by flow cytometry, to verify the percentages of CD4, Treg (CD4+CD25+Foxp3+) and the subsets of CD45RA+ (naive) and CD31+(RTE) within then. Furthermore, the HLA typing was also set. We observed that the young established T1D patients feature decreased frequencies in total Treg cells and naive RTE within Treg cells. Significant prevalence of HLA alleles, associated with risk, in T1D patients, was also identified. Performing a multivariate analysis, we confirmed that the cellular changes described offers significant variables that distinct T1D patients from the controls. Our data collectively highlight relevant aspects about homeostasis imbalances in the Treg cells of T1D patients, especially in young, and disease prognosis; that might contribute for future therapeutic strategies involving Treg cells manipulation.

Resident regulatory T cells reflect the immune history of individual lymph nodes

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are present in lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues where they restrict immune activation, prevent autoimmunity, and regulate inflammation. Tregs in nonlymphoid tissues are typically resident, whereas those in lymph nodes (LNs) are considered to recirculate. However, Tregs in LNs are not a homogenous population, and circulation kinetics of different Treg subsets are poorly characterized. Furthermore, whether Tregs can acquire memory T cell properties and persist for extended periods after their activation in LNs is unclear. Here, we used in situ labeling with a stabilized photoconvertible protein to uncover turnover rates of Tregs in LNs in vivo. We found that, whereas most Tregs in LNs recirculate, 10 to 20% are memory-like resident cells that remain in their respective LNs for weeks to months. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that LN-resident cells are a functionally and ontogenetically heterogeneous population and share the same core residency gene signature with conventional CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Resident cells in LNs did not actively proliferate and did not require continuous T cell receptor (TCR) signaling for their residency. However, resident and circulating Tregs had distinct TCR repertoires, and each LN contained exclusive clonal subpopulations of resident Tregs. Our results demonstrate that, similar to conventional T cells, Tregs can form resident memory-like populations in LNs after adaptive immune responses. Specific and local suppression of immune responses by resident Tregs in draining LNs might provide previously unidentified therapeutic opportunities for the treatment of local chronic inflammatory conditions.

Regulatory T cells in the face of the intestinal microbiota

Regulatory T cells (Treg cells) are key players in ensuring a peaceful coexistence with microorganisms and food antigens at intestinal borders. Startling new information has appeared in recent years on their diversity, the importance of the transcription factor FOXP3, how T cell receptors influence their fate and the unexpected and varied cellular partners that influence Treg cell homeostatic setpoints. We also revisit some tenets, maintained by the echo chambers of Reviews, that rest on uncertain foundations or are a subject of debate.

Cell-based therapies for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis that is the most prevalent rheumatic autoimmune disorder, affect autologous connective tissues caused by the breakdown of the self-tolerance mechanisms of the immune system. During the last two decades, cell-based therapy, including stem cells and none-stem cells has been increasingly considered as a therapeutic option in various diseases. This is partly due to the unique properties of stem cells that divide and differentiate from the specialized cells in the damaged tissue. Moreover, stem cells and none-stem cells, impose immunomodulatory properties affecting the diseases caused by immunological abnormalities such as rheumatic autoimmune disorders. In the present review, the efficacy of cell-based therapy with four main types of stem cells, including mesenchymal stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells, embryonic stem cells, and human amniotic membrane cells, as well as none-stem cells, including regulatory T cells, chimeric antigen receptor T cells, and tolerogenic dendritic cells will be evaluated. Moreover, other related issues, including safety, changes in immunological parameters, suitable choice of stem cell and none-stem cell origin, conditioning regimen, limitations, and complications will be discussed.

Compartmentalization and persistence of dominant (regulatory) T cell clones indicates antigen skewing in juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Autoimmune inflammation is characterized by tissue infiltration and expansion of antigen-specific T cells. Although this inflammation is often limited to specific target tissues, it remains yet to be explored whether distinct affected sites are infiltrated with the same, persistent T cell clones. Here, we performed CyTOF analysis and T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing to study immune cell composition and (hyper-)expansion of circulating and joint-derived Tregs and non-Tregs in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). We studied different joints affected at the same time, as well as over the course of relapsing-remitting disease. We found that the composition and functional characteristics of immune infiltrates are strikingly similar between joints within one patient, and observed a strong overlap between dominant T cell clones, especially Treg, of which some could also be detected in circulation and persisted over the course of relapsing-remitting disease. Moreover, these T cell clones were characterized by a high degree of sequence similarity, indicating the presence of TCR clusters responding to the same antigens. These data suggest that in localized autoimmune disease, there is autoantigen-driven expansion of both Teffector and Treg clones that are highly persistent and are (re)circulating. These dominant clones might represent interesting therapeutic targets.

Healthy-like CD4+ Regulatory and CD4+ Conventional T-Cell Receptor Repertoires Predict Protection from GVHD Following Donor Lymphocyte Infusion

Donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) can (re-)induce durable remission in relapsing patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (alloHSCT). However, DLI harbors the risk of increased non-relapse mortality due to the co-occurrence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). GVHD onset may be caused or accompanied by changes in the clonal T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire. To investigate this, we analyzed T cells in a cohort of 21 patients receiving DLI after alloHSCT. We performed deep T-cell receptor β (TRB) sequencing of sorted CD4+CD25+CD127low regulatory T cells (Treg cells) and CD4+ conventional T cells (Tcon cells) in order to track longitudinal changes in the TCR repertoire. GVHD following DLI was associated with less diverse but clonally expanded CD4+CD25+CD127low Treg and CD4+ Tcon TCR repertoires, while patients without GVHD exhibited healthy-like repertoire properties. Moreover, the diversification of the repertoires upon GVHD treatment was linked to steroid-sensitive GVHD, whereas decreased diversity was observed in steroid-refractory GVHD. Finally, the unbiased sample analysis revealed that the healthy-like attributes of the CD4+CD25+CD127low Treg TCR repertoire were associated with reduced GVHD incidence. In conclusion, CD4+CD25+CD127low Treg and CD4+ Tcon TRB repertoire dynamics may provide a helpful real-time tool to improve the diagnosis and monitoring of treatment in GVHD following DLI.

Traumatic Brain Injury Induces a Differential Immune Response in Polytrauma Patients; Prospective Analysis of CD69 Expression on T Cells and Platelet Expansion

Background: Accidents and injuries are the leading causes of mortality in young people. CD4+ regulatory T cells (CD4+ Tregs), Th17 cells and platelets could be identified as key players in post-traumatic immunological dysfunction, which is a common cause of late mortality in trauma patients. The mechanisms of activation of these cell types and their interaction remain mostly unclear. Since CD69 is not only a leukocyte marker but has also immunoregulatory functions, we postulate a role for CD69 after trauma. The present study investigates the expression of CD69 on CD4+ Tregs and Th17 cells, as well as the posttraumatic expansion of platelets and hemostatic function. Subgroup analysis was performed to assess the differences between polytrauma patients with and without severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: In this non-interventional prospective clinical trial, we analyzed sequential blood samples over a period of 10 days from 30 patients after multiple traumas with an ISS ≥ 16. Platelet function was assessed by rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM analysis). CD4+ Tregs and Th17 cells were stained with surface markers and analyzed by flow cytometry. Results: We were able to demonstrate a significantly increased expression of CD69 on CD4+ Tregs after trauma. Subgroup analysis revealed that the absence of severe TBI is associated with a significantly higher expression of CD69 on CD4+ Tregs and on Th17 cells. Platelets expanded and showed signs of dysfunction, while an overall tendency of posttraumatic hypercoagulation was detected. Conclusions: Our results support the concept of injury-specific immune responses and add to a further understanding of the complex pathophysiology of post-traumatic immune dysfunction.

Newly Found Peacekeeper: Potential of CD8+ Tregs for Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) remains the most effective and potentially curative treatment for a variety of hematologic malignancies. However, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major obstacle that limits wide application of allo-HSCT, despite the development of prophylactic strategies. Owing to experimental and clinical advances in the field, GVHD is characterized by disruption of the balance between effector and regulatory immune cells, resulting in higher inflammatory cytokine levels. A reduction in regulatory T cells (Tregs) has been associated with limiting recalibration of inflammatory overaction and maintaining immune tolerance. Moreover, accumulating evidence suggests that immunoregulation may be useful for preventing GVHD. As opposed to CD4⁺ Tregs, the CD8⁺ Tregs population, which constitutes an important proportion of all Tregs, efficiently attenuates GVHD while sparing graft-versus-leukemic (GVL) effects. CD8⁺ Tregs may provide another form of cellular therapy for preventing GVHD and preserving GVL effects, and understanding the underlying mechanisms that different from those of CD4⁺ Tregs is significant. In this review, we summarize preclinical experiments that have demonstrated the role of CD8⁺ Tregs during GVHD and attempted to obtain optimized CD8⁺ Tregs. Notably, although optimized CD8⁺ Tregs have obvious advantages, more exploration is needed to determine how to apply them in the clinic.

Clonal expansion of CD8+ T cells reflects graft-versus-leukemia activity and precedes durable remission following DLI

GVL activity in patients receiving DLI for relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is associated with clonal expansion of CD8⁺ T cells.

Absence of clonal expansion of the CD8⁺TRB repertoire after DLI predicts relapse at a median time of 11.2 months before clinical diagnosis.

Donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) is a standard of care for relapse of acute myeloid leukemia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Currently it is poorly understood how and when CD8⁺ αβ T cells exert graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) activity after DLI. Also, there is no reliable biomarker to monitor GVL activity of the infused CD8⁺ T cells. Therefore, we analyzed the dynamics of CD8⁺ αβ T-cell clones in patients with DLI. In this prospective clinical study of 29 patients, we performed deep T-cell receptor β (TRB ) sequencing of sorted CD8⁺ αβ T cells to track patients’ repertoire changes in response to DLI. Upon first occurrence of GVL, longitudinal analyses revealed a preferential expansion of distinct CD8⁺TRB clones (n = 14). This did not occur in samples of patients without signs of GVL (n = 11). Importantly, early repertoire changes 15 days after DLI predicted durable remission for the 36-month study follow-up. Furthermore, absence of clonal outgrowth of the CD8⁺TRB repertoire after DLI was an early biomarker that predicted relapse at a median time of 11.2 months ahead of actual diagnosis. Additionally, unbiased sample analysis regardless of the clinical outcome revealed that patients with decreasing CD8⁺TRB diversity at day 15 after DLI (n = 13) had a lower relapse incidence (P = .0040) compared with patients without clonal expansion (n = 6). In conclusion, CD8⁺TRB analysis may provide a reliable tool for predicting the efficacy of DLI and holds the potential to identify patients at risk for progression and relapse after DLI.

Therapeutically expanded human regulatory T-cells are super-suppressive due to HIF1A induced expression of CD73

The adoptive transfer of regulatory T-cells (Tregs) is a promising therapeutic approach in transplantation and autoimmunity. However, because large cell numbers are needed to achieve a therapeutic effect, in vitro expansion is required. By comparing their function, phenotype and transcriptomic profile against ex vivo Tregs, we demonstrate that expanded human Tregs switch their metabolism to aerobic glycolysis and show enhanced suppressive function through hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF1A) driven acquisition of CD73 expression. In conjunction with CD39, CD73 expression enables expanded Tregs to convert ATP to immunosuppressive adenosine. We conclude that for maximum therapeutic benefit, Treg expansion protocols should be optimised for CD39/CD73 co-expression.

Harnessing Treg Homeostasis to Optimize Posttransplant Immunity: Current Concepts and Future Perspectives

CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are functionally distinct subsets of mature T cells with broad suppressive activity and have been shown to play an important role in the establishment of immune tolerance after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Tregs exhibit an activated phenotype from the stage of emigration from the thymus and maintain continuous proliferation in the periphery. The distinctive feature in homeostasis enables Tregs to respond sensitively to small environmental changes and exert necessary and sufficient immune suppression; however, on the other hand, it also predisposes Tregs to be susceptible to apoptosis in the inflammatory condition post-transplant. Our studies have attempted to define the intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting Treg homeostasis from the acute to chronic phases after allogeneic HSCT. We have found that altered cytokine environment in the prolonged post-HSCT lymphopenia or peri-transplant use of immune checkpoint inhibitors could hamper Treg reconstitution, leading to refractory graft-versus-host disease. Using murine models and clinical trials, we have also demonstrated that proper intervention with low-dose interleukin-2 or post-transplant cyclophosphamide could restore Treg homeostasis and further amplify the suppressive function after HSCT. The purpose of this review is to reconsider the distinctive characteristics of post-transplant Treg homeostasis and discuss how to harness Treg homeostasis to optimize posttransplant immunity for developing a safe and efficient therapeutic strategy.

Tregs self-organize into a computing ecosystem and implement a sophisticated optimization algorithm for mediating immune response

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a crucial role in mediating immune response. Yet an algorithmic understanding of the role of Tregs in adaptive immunity remains lacking. Here, we present a biophysically realistic model of Treg-mediated self-tolerance in which Tregs bind to self-antigens and locally inhibit the proliferation of nearby activated T cells. By exploiting a duality between ecological dynamics and constrained optimization, we show that Tregs tile the potential antigen space while simultaneously minimizing the overlap between Treg activation profiles. We find that for sufficiently high Treg diversity, Treg-mediated self-tolerance is robust to fluctuations in self-antigen concentrations but lowering the Treg diversity results in a sharp transition-related to the Gardner transition in perceptrons-to a regime where changes in self-antigen concentrations can result in an autoimmune response. We propose an experimental test of this transition in immune-deficient mice and discuss potential implications for autoimmune diseases.

Thymic atrophy creates holes in Treg-mediated immuno-regulation via impairment of an antigen-specific clone

Age-related thymic atrophy results in reduced output of naïve conventional T (Tcon) cells. However, its impact on regulatory T (Treg) cells is insufficiently understood. Given evidence that thymic Treg (tTreg) cell generation is enhanced in the aged, atrophy thymus and that the aged periphery accumulates peripheral Treg (pTreg) cells, we asked why these Treg cells are unable to effectively attenuate increased autoreactivity-induced chronic inflammation in the elderly. We designed a mock-self-antigen chimera mouse model, in which membrane-bound ovalbumin (mOVA) transgenic mice, bearing a FoxN1-floxed gene for induction of conditional thymic atrophy, received OVA-specific (OT-II) T-cell receptor (TCR) transgenic progenitor cells. The chimeric mice with thymic atrophy exhibited a significant decrease in OVA-specific tTreg and pTreg cells but not polyclonal (pan)-Treg cells. These OVA-specific pTreg cells were significantly less able to suppress OVA-specific stimulation-induced proliferation in vitro and exhibited lower FoxP3 expression. Additionally, we conducted preliminary TCR repertoire diversity sequencing for Treg cells among recent thymic emigrants (RTEs) from Rag^GFP -FoxP3^RFP dual-reporter mice and observed a trend for decreased diversity in mice with thymic atrophy compared to littermates with normal thymus. These data indicate that although the effects of age-related thymic atrophy do not affect pan-Treg generation, certain tissue-specific Treg clones may experience abnormal agonist selection. This, combined with enhanced pan-pTreg cells, may greatly contribute to age-related chronic inflammation, even in the absence of acute autoimmune disease in the elderly.

Expansion of an Unusual Virtual Memory CD8+ Subpopulation Bearing Vα3.2 TCR in Themis-Deficient Mice

Deletion of the gene for Themis affects T cell selection in the thymus, which would be expected to affect the TCR repertoire. We found an increased proportion of cells expressing Vα3.2 (TRAV9N-3) in the peripheral CD8⁺ T cell population in mice with germline Themis deficiency. Analysis of the TCRα repertoire indicated it was generally reduced in diversity in the absence of Themis, whereas the diversity of sequences using the TRAV9N-3 V-region element was increased. In wild type mice, Vα3.2⁺ cells showed higher CD5, CD6 and CD44 expression than non-Vα3-expressing cells, and this was more marked in cells from Themis-deficient mice. This suggested a virtual memory phenotype, as well as a stronger response to self-pMHC. The Vα3.2⁺ cells responded more strongly to IL-15, as well as showing bystander effector capability in a Listeria infection. Thus, the unusually large population of Vα3.2⁺ CD8⁺ T cells found in the periphery of Themis-deficient mice reflects not only altered thymic selection, but also allowed identification of a subset of bystander-competent cells that are also present in wild-type mice.

Function and Role of Regulatory T Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic and heterogeneous autoimmune disease with symmetrical polyarthritis as its critical clinical manifestation. The basic cause of autoimmune diseases is the loss of tolerance to self or harmless antigens. The loss or functional deficiency of key immune cells, regulatory T (Treg) cells, has been confirmed in human autoimmune diseases. The pathogenesis of RA is complex, and the dysfunction of Tregs is one of the proposed mechanisms underlying the breakdown of self-tolerance leading to the progression of RA. Treg cells are a vital component of peripheral immune tolerance, and the transcription factor Foxp3 plays a major immunosuppressive role. Clinical treatment for RA mainly utilizes drugs to alleviate the progression of disease and relieve disease activity, and the ideal treatment strategy should be to re-induce self-tolerance before obvious tissue injury. Treg cells are one of the ideal options. This review will introduce the classification, mechanism of action, and characteristics of Treg cells in RA, which provides insights into clinical RA treatment.

Maturation and Phenotypic Heterogeneity of Human CD4+ Regulatory T Cells From Birth to Adulthood and After Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

CD4+ Regulatory T cells (Treg) play a critical role in maintaining immune homeostasis. Various Treg subsets have been identified, however the heterogeneity of Treg subpopulations during development remains uncharacterized. Using mass cytometry we obtained single cell data on expression of 35 functional markers to examine the heterogeneity of Treg cells at birth and in adults. Unsupervised clustering algorithms FlowSOM and ACCENSE were used to quantify Treg heterogeneity. As expected, Treg in umbilical cord blood were predominately naïve while Treg in adult blood were predominately central memory and effector memory cells. Although umbilical cord blood Treg are mostly naïve cells, we observed multiple phenotypic Treg subsets in cord blood. Nevertheless, peripheral blood in adults contained higher percentages of Treg and the heterogeneity of Treg was significantly increased in adults. We also studied Treg heterogeneity throughout a 2-year period after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) and in patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). Treg heterogeneity recovered rapidly after alloHSCT and gradually increased in the first two years post-transplant. However, patients with cGVHD had significantly fewer distinct Treg subpopulations, proposing a correlation between a disrupted Treg heterogeneity and cGVHD. Our study is the first to compare human Treg heterogeneity at birth, in healthy adults and in patients after alloHSCT with and without cGVHD. This approach to characterize Treg heterogeneity based on expression of a large panel of functional markers may enable future studies to identify specific Treg defects that contribute to immune dysfunction.

Possible involvement of regulatory T cell abnormalities and variational usage of TCR repertoire in children with autoimmune neutropenia

Autoimmune neutropenia (AIN) in childhood is characterized by chronic neutropenia and positivity for anti-neutrophil antibodies, resulting in the excessive destruction of neutrophils. In this study, we investigated the involvement of regulatory T cells (T_regs ) in the pathogenesis of AIN in childhood. T_regs have been classified into three subpopulations based on the expressions of CD45RA and forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3): resting T_regs , activated T_regs and non-suppressive T_regs . The frequency of activated T_regs (CD4⁺ CD25⁺ FoxP3^high CD45RA^- T cells) as well as that of total T_regs (CD4⁺ CD25⁺ FoxP3⁺ T cells) in peripheral blood was significantly decreased in patients with AIN. Analysis of the T cell receptor (TCR)-Vβ repertoire of CD4⁺ T cells revealed skewed usages in patients with AIN compared with that observed in age-matched control subjects. Regarding T cell subsets, the use of four of 24 TCR-Vβ families in T_regs and one in conventional T cells were increased in patients with AIN. The number of patients with AIN who showed skewed usages of TCR-Vβ family in conventional and T_regs was significantly higher than that reported in control subjects. When the preference between T_regs and conventional T cells in each TCR-Vβ family was individually compared, different use was prominently observed in the TCR-Vβ 9 family in patients with AIN. These results suggest that the quantitative abnormalities of T_regs and the skew of the TCR-Vβ repertoire in CD4⁺ T cells, including T_regs and conventional T cells, may be related to autoantibody production through a human neutrophil antigen-reactive T cell clone.

Malt1 Protease Deficiency in Mice Disrupts Immune Homeostasis at Environmental Barriers and Drives Systemic T Cell-Mediated Autoimmunity

The paracaspase Malt1 is a key regulator of canonical NF-κB activation downstream of multiple receptors in both immune and nonimmune cells. Genetic disruption of Malt1 protease function in mice and MALT1 mutations in humans results in reduced regulatory T cells and a progressive multiorgan inflammatory pathology. In this study, we evaluated the altered immune homeostasis and autoimmune disease in Malt1 protease-deficient (Malt1PD) mice and the Ags driving disease manifestations. Our data indicate that B cell activation and IgG1/IgE production is triggered by microbial and dietary Ags preferentially in lymphoid organs draining mucosal barriers, likely as a result of dysregulated mucosal immune homeostasis. Conversely, the disease was driven by a polyclonal T cell population directed against self-antigens. Characterization of the Malt1PD T cell compartment revealed expansion of T effector memory cells and concomitant loss of a CD4⁺ T cell population that phenotypically resembles anergic T cells. Therefore, we propose that the compromised regulatory T cell compartment in Malt1PD animals prevents the efficient maintenance of anergy and supports the progressive expansion of pathogenic, IFN-γ-producing T cells. Overall, our data revealed a crucial role of the Malt1 protease for the maintenance of intestinal and systemic immune homeostasis, which might provide insights into the mechanisms underlying IPEX-related diseases associated with mutations in MALT1.

T-Cell Compartmentalization and Functional Adaptation in Autoimmune Inflammation: Lessons From Pediatric Rheumatic Diseases

Chronic inflammatory diseases are characterized by a disturbed immune balance leading to recurring episodes of inflammation in specific target tissues, such as the joints in juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The tissue becomes infiltrated by multiple types of immune cell, including high numbers of CD4 and CD8 T-cells, which are mostly effector memory cells. Locally, these T-cells display an environment-adapted phenotype, induced by inflammation- and tissue-specific instructions. Some of the infiltrated T-cells may become tissue resident and play a role in relapses of inflammation. Adaptation to the environment may lead to functional (re)programming of cells and altered cellular interactions and responses. For example, specifically at the site of inflammation both CD4 and CD8 T-cells can become resistant to regulatory T-cell-mediated regulation. In addition, CD8 and CD4 T-cells show a unique profile with pro- and anti-inflammatory features coexisting in the same compartment. Also regulatory T-cells are neither homogeneous nor static in nature and show features of functional differentiation, and plasticity in inflammatory environments. Here we will discuss the recent insights in T-cell functional specialization, regulation, and clonal expansion in local (tissue) inflammation.

Newly identified T cell subsets in mechanistic studies of food immunotherapy

Allergen-specific immunotherapy has shown promise for the treatment of food allergy and is currently being evaluated in clinical trials. Although immunotherapy can induce desensitization, the mechanisms underlying this process are not completely understood. Recent advances in high-throughput technologies along with concomitant advances in data analytics have enabled monitoring of cells at the single-cell level and increased the research focus on upstream cellular factors involved in the efficacy of immunotherapy, particularly the role of T cells. As our appreciation of different T cell subsets and their plasticity increases, the initial simplistic view that restoring Th1/Th2 balance by decreasing Th2 or increasing Th1 responses can ameliorate food allergy is being enhanced by a more complex model involving other T cell subsets, particularly Tregs. In this Review, we focus on the current understanding of T cell functions in food allergy, tolerance, and immunotherapy.

miR-181a/b-1 controls thymic selection of Treg cells and tunes their suppressive capacity

The interdependence of selective cues during development of regulatory T cells (Treg cells) in the thymus and their suppressive function remains incompletely understood. Here, we analyzed this interdependence by taking advantage of highly dynamic changes in expression of microRNA 181 family members miR-181a-1 and miR-181b-1 (miR-181a/b-1) during late T-cell development with very high levels of expression during thymocyte selection, followed by massive down-regulation in the periphery. Loss of miR-181a/b-1 resulted in inefficient de novo generation of Treg cells in the thymus but simultaneously permitted homeostatic expansion in the periphery in the absence of competition. Modulation of T-cell receptor (TCR) signal strength in vivo indicated that miR-181a/b-1 controlled Treg-cell formation via establishing adequate signaling thresholds. Unexpectedly, miR-181a/b-1-deficient Treg cells displayed elevated suppressive capacity in vivo, in line with elevated levels of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated 4 (CTLA-4) protein, but not mRNA, in thymic and peripheral Treg cells. Therefore, we propose that intrathymic miR-181a/b-1 controls development of Treg cells and imposes a developmental legacy on their peripheral function.

Allergies and autoimmune disorders in children after heart transplantation

Pediatric heart transplantation requires lifelong immune suppression and may require thymectomy, both of which alter T-cell repertoires. We hypothesized that atopic and autoimmune diseases are more common in pediatric heart transplant patients than the general population, and that transplantation in early childhood increases the risk of development or worsening of atopic or autoimmune disease. A cross-sectional single-center study including 21 heart transplant patients aged ≤18 years was conducted. Data collected included age at transplant, induction, thymectomy, and development and severity of atopic or autoimmune disease. A majority (67%) reported having any atopic disease post-transplant, all of whom reported onset or worsening post-transplantation. Thymectomized patients were significantly more likely to have asthma (P = 0.018) and report asthma worsening post-transplant (P = 0.045). Patients with worsening of asthma post-transplant were transplanted at a significantly younger age (P = 0.040). ABO incompatible and ABO compatible recipients presented similarly. Anemia was common (38%) but not always clearly of autoimmune origin. Atopic diseases are common in children following heart transplantation: Compared to the general population, there is a higher prevalence of eczema (43% vs 11%) and asthma (33% vs 9%). Both thymectomy and younger age at transplant are associated with atopic disorders, possibly due to altered T-cell repertoires.

Patients with CD3G mutations reveal a role for human CD3γ in Treg diversity and suppressive function

Integrity of the T-cell receptor/CD3 complex is crucial for positive and negative selection of T cells in the thymus and for effector and regulatory functions of peripheral T lymphocytes. In humans, CD3D, CD3E, and CD3Z gene defects are a cause of severe immune deficiency and present early in life with increased susceptibility to infections. By contrast, CD3G mutations lead to milder phenotypes, mainly characterized by autoimmunity. However, the role of CD3γ in establishing and maintaining immune tolerance has not been elucidated. In this manuscript, we aimed to investigate abnormalities of T-cell repertoire and function in patients with genetic defects in CD3G associated with autoimmunity. High throughput sequencing was used to study composition and diversity of the T-cell receptor β (TRB) repertoire in regulatory T cells (Tregs), conventional CD4+ (Tconv), and CD8+ T cells from 6 patients with CD3G mutations and healthy controls. Treg function was assessed by studying its ability to suppress proliferation of Tconv cells. Treg cells of patients with CD3G defects had reduced diversity, increased clonality, and reduced suppressive function. The TRB repertoire of Tconv cells from patients with CD3G deficiency was enriched for hydrophobic amino acids at positions 6 and 7 of the CDR3, a biomarker of self-reactivity. These data demonstrate that the T-cell repertoire of patients with CD3G mutations is characterized by a molecular signature that may contribute to the increased rate of autoimmunity associated with this condition.

The Lower Limit of Regulatory CD4+ Foxp3+ TCRβ Repertoire Diversity Required To Control Autoimmunity

The TCR repertoire of regulatory T cells (Tregs) is highly diverse. The relevance of this diversity to maintain self-tolerance remains unknown. We established a model where the TCR repertoire of normal polyclonal Tregs was limited by serial transfers into IL-2Rβ^-/- mice, which lack functional Tregs. After a primary transfer, the donor Treg TCR repertoire was substantially narrowed, yet the recipients remained autoimmune-free. Importantly, upon purification and transfer of donor-derived Tregs from an individual primary recipient into neonatal IL-2Rβ^-/- mice, the secondary recipients developed autoimmunity. In this study, the Treg TCRβ repertoire was reshaped and further narrowed. In contrast, secondary IL-2Rβ recipients showed fewer symptoms of autoimmunity when they received donor Tregs that were premixed from several primary recipients to increase their TCRβ repertoire diversity. About 8-11% of the Treg TCRβ repertoire was estimated to be the minimum required to establish and maintain tolerance in primary IL-2Rβ^-/- recipients. Collectively, these data quantify where limitations imposed on the Treg TCRβ repertoire results in a population of Tregs that cannot fully suppress polyclonal autoreactive T cells. Our data favor a model where the high diversity of the Treg TCR provides a mechanism for Tregs to actively adapt and effectively suppress autoreactive T cells, which are not fixed, but are evolving as they encounter self-antigens.

Deep sequencing of the TCR-β repertoire of human forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3)+ and FoxP3- T cells suggests that they are completely distinct and non-overlapping

Maintenance of peripheral tolerance requires a balance between autoreactive conventional T cells (T_conv ) and thymically derived forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3)⁺ regulatory T cells (tT_regs ). Considerable controversy exists regarding the similarities/differences in T cell receptor (TCR) repertoires expressed by T_conv and tT_regs . We generated highly purified populations of human adult and cord blood T_conv and tT_regs based on the differential expression of CD25 and CD127. The purity of the sorted populations was validated by intracellular staining for FoxP3 and Helios. We also purified an overlap group of CD4 T cells from adult donors to ensure that considerable numbers of shared clonotypes could be detected when present. We used deep sequencing of entire TCR-β CDR3 sequences to analyse the TCR repertoire of T_conv and tT_regs . Our studies suggest that both neonatal and adult human T_conv and tT_reg cells are, in fact, entirely distinct CD4 T cell lineages.

CD4+ Foxp3+ T-cells contribute to myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury

OBJECTIVE

The present study analyzed the effect of CD4⁺ Forkhead box protein 3 negative (Foxp3^-) T-cells and Foxp3⁺ CD4⁺ T-cells on infarct size in a mouse myocardial ischemia-reperfusion model.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

We examined the infarct size as a fraction of the area-at-risk as primary study endpoint in mice after 30minutes of coronary ligation followed by 24hours of reperfusion. CD4⁺ T-cell deficient MHC-II KO mice showed smaller histologically determined infarct size (34.5±4.7% in MHCII KO versus 59.4±4.9% in wildtype (WT)) and better preserved ejection fraction determined by magnetic resonance tomography (56.9±2.8% in MHC II KO versus 39.0±4.2% in WT). MHC-II KO mice also displayed better microvascular perfusion than WT mice after 24hours of reperfusion. Also CD4⁺ T-cell sufficient OT-II mice, which express an in this context irrelevant T-cell receptor, revealed smaller infarct sizes compared to WT mice. However, MHC-II blocking anti-I-A/I-E antibody treatment was not able to reduce infarct size indicating that autoantigen recognition is not required for the activation of CD4⁺ T-cells during reperfusion. Flow-cytometric analysis also did not detect CD4⁺ T-cell activation in heart draining lymph nodes in response to 24hours of ischemia-reperfusion. Adoptive transfer of CD4⁺ T-cells in CD4 KO mice increased the infarct size only when including the Foxp3⁺ CD25⁺ subset. Depletion of CD4⁺ Foxp3⁺ T-cells in DEREG mice enabling specific conditional ablation of this subset by treatment with diphtheria toxin attenuated infarct size as compared to diphtheria toxin treated WT mice.

CONCLUSIONS

CD4⁺ Foxp3⁺ T-cells enhance myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. CD4⁺ T-cells exert injurious effects without the need for prior activation by MHC-II restricted autoantigen recognition.

How antigen specificity directs regulatory T-cell function: self, foreign and engineered specificity

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a suppressive subset of T cells that have important roles in maintaining self-tolerance and preventing immunopathology. The T-cell receptor (TCR) and its antigen specificity play a dominant role in the differentiation of cells to a Treg fate, either in the thymus or in the periphery. This review focuses on the effects of the TCR and its antigen specificity on Treg biology. The role of Tregs with specificity for self-antigen has primarily been studied in the context of autoimmune disease, although recent studies have focused on their role in steady-state conditions. The role of Tregs that are specific for pathogens, dietary antigens and allergens is much less studied, although recent data suggest a significant and previously underappreciated role for Tregs during memory responses to a wide range of foreign antigens. The development of TCR- or chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-transduced T cells means we are now able to engineer Tregs with disease-relevant antigen specificities, paving the way for ensuring specificity with Treg-based therapies. Understanding the role that antigens play in driving the generation and function of Tregs is critical for defining the pathophysiology of many immune-mediated diseases, and developing new therapeutic interventions.

Dynamics of Individual T Cell Repertoires: From Cord Blood to Centenarians

The diversity, architecture, and dynamics of the TCR repertoire largely determine our ability to effectively withstand infections and malignancies with minimal mistargeting of immune responses. In this study, we have employed deep TCRβ repertoire sequencing with normalization based on unique molecular identifiers to explore the long-term dynamics of T cell immunity. We demonstrate remarkable stability of repertoire, where approximately half of all T cells in peripheral blood are represented by clones that persist and generally preserve their frequencies for 3 y. We further characterize the extremes of lifelong TCR repertoire evolution, analyzing samples ranging from umbilical cord blood to centenarian peripheral blood. We show that the fetal TCR repertoire, albeit structurally maintained within regulated borders due to the lower numbers of randomly added nucleotides, is not limited with respect to observed functional diversity. We reveal decreased efficiency of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay in umbilical cord blood, which may reflect specific regulatory mechanisms in development. Furthermore, we demonstrate that human TCR repertoires are functionally more similar at birth but diverge during life, and we track the lifelong behavior of CMV- and EBV-specific T cell clonotypes. Finally, we reveal gender differences in dynamics of TCR diversity constriction, which come to naught in the oldest age. Based on our data, we propose a more general explanation for the previous observations on the relationships between longevity and immunity.

Foxp3(+) T cells expressing RORγt represent a stable regulatory T-cell effector lineage with enhanced suppressive capacity during intestinal inflammation

Foxp3 (forkhead box P3 transcription factor)-expressing regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for immunological tolerance, best illustrated by uncontrolled effector T-cell responses and autoimmunity upon loss of Foxp3 expression. Tregs can adopt specific effector phenotypes upon activation, reflecting the diversity of functional demands in the different tissues of the body. Here, we report that Foxp3(+)CD4(+) T cells coexpressing retinoic acid-related orphan receptor-γt (RORγt), the master transcription factor for T helper type 17 (Th17) cells, represent a stable effector Treg lineage. Transcriptomic and epigenetic profiling revealed that Foxp3(+)RORγt(+) T cells display signatures of both Tregs and Th17 cells, although the degree of similarity was higher to Foxp3(+)RORγt(-) Tregs than to Foxp3(-)RORγt(+) T cells. Importantly, Foxp3(+)RORγt(+) T cells were significantly demethylated at Treg-specific epigenetic signature genes such as Foxp3, Ctla-4, Gitr, Eos, and Helios, suggesting that these cells have a stable regulatory rather than inflammatory function. Indeed, adoptive transfer of Foxp3(+)RORγt(+) T cells in the T-cell transfer colitis model confirmed their Treg function and lineage stability in vivo, and revealed an enhanced suppressive capacity as compared with Foxp3(+)RORγt(-) Tregs. Thus, our data suggest that RORγt expression in Tregs contributes to an optimal suppressive capacity during gut-specific immune responses, rendering Foxp3(+)RORγt(+) T cells as an important effector Treg subset in the intestinal system.

Adoptively transferred Tregs accumulate in a site-specific manner and ameliorate signs of less advanced collagen-induced arthritis progress in rats

AIM

The aim of the study was to assess the therapeutic effect and migration of adoptively transferred Tregs in the course of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in rats.

METHODS

Sorted CD4(+)CD25(+) cells were cultured in the presence of 17-β-estradiol, stained with CellTracker and then administered into the articular capsule of ankle joint of animals in different stages of CIA progression.

RESULTS

Tregs diminished CIA signs only in animals with less advanced disease progress. Moreover, migration of transferred cells into the LN in the near proximity of the injection site and with distal location was almost completely stopped in animals with fully developed CIA.

CONCLUSION

Disease progression-related differences in migratory potential of in vitro induced Tregs may be responsible for the failure of cellular therapy during the advanced stages of CIA.

Enhanced renewal of regulatory T cells in relation to CD4(+) conventional T lymphocytes in the peripheral compartment

CD4(+) Foxp3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells are necessary for the maintenance of self-tolerance and T-cell homeostasis. This population is kept at stable frequencies in secondary lymphoid organs for the majority of the lifetime, despite permanent thymic emigration or in the face of thymic involution. Continuous competition is expected to occur between recently thymus-emigrated and resident Treg cells (either natural or post-thymically induced). In the present work, we analysed the renewal dynamics of Treg cells compared with CD4(+) Foxp3- conventional T cells (Tconv), using protocols of single or successive T-cell transfers into syngeneic euthymic or lymphopenic (nu/nu or RAG2(-/-)) mice, respectively. Our results show a higher turnover for Treg cells in the peripheral compartment, compared with Tconv cells, when B cell-sufficient euthymic or nude hosts are studied. This increased renewal within the Treg pool, shown by the greater replacement of resident Treg cells by donor counterparts, correlates with augmented rates of proliferation and is not modified following temporary environmental perturbations induced by inflammatory state or microbiota alterations. Notably, the preferential substitution of Treg lymphocytes was not observed in RAG2(-/-) hosts. We showed that limited B-cell replenishment in the RAG2(-/-) hosts decisively contributed to the altered peripheral T-cell homeostasis. Accordingly, weekly transfers of B cells to RAG2(-/-) hosts rescued the preferential substitution of Treg lymphocytes. Our study discloses a new aspect of T-cell homeostasis that depends on the presence of B lymphocytes to regulate the relative incorporation of recently arrived Treg and Tconv cells in the peripheral compartment.

Requirement of full TCR repertoire for regulatory T cells to maintain intestinal homeostasis

The regulation of intestinal homeostasis by the immune system involves the dynamic interplay between gut commensal microbiota and resident immune cells. It is well known that a large and diverse lymphocyte antigen receptor repertoire enables the immune system to recognize and respond to a wide range of invading pathogens. There is also an emerging appreciation for a critical role the T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire serves in the maintenance of peripheral tolerance by regulatory T cells (Tregs). Nevertheless, how the diversity of the TCR repertoire in Tregs affects intestinal homeostasis remains unknown. To address this question, we studied mice whose T cells express a restricted TCR repertoire. We observed the development of spontaneous colitis, accompanied by the induction of T-helper type 17 cells in the colon that is driven by gut commensal microbiota. We provide further evidence that a restricted TCR repertoire causes a loss of tolerogenicity to microbiota, accompanied by a paucity of peripherally derived, Helios(-) Tregs and hyperactivation of migratory dendritic cells. These results thus reveal a new facet of the TCR repertoire in which Tregs require a diverse TCR repitoire for intestinal homeostasis, suggesting an additional driving force in the evolutional significance of the TCR repertoire.

Full activation of CD4+ T cells early during sepsis requires specific antigen

Supplemental digital content is available in the text.

During sepsis, CD4⁺ T cells express activation markers within the first 24 h. In the present study, the mechanisms of T-cell activation and its consequences were addressed in an acute peritonitis model in mice. The response of CD4⁺ T cells to sepsis induction was compared between OTII mice, characterized by ovalbumin-specific T-cell receptor–transgenic T cells, and C57BL/6 controls (wild type [WT] mice). Because ovalbumin was absent during peritonitis, the OTII CD4⁺ T cells could not be activated by canonical antigen recognition. In both OTII and WT control mice, CD4⁺ T effector cells and CD4⁺ Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells (Tregs) expressed the activation marker CD69 early after sepsis onset. However, full activation with upregulation of CD25 and proliferation took place only in the presence of the antigen. Besides this, the fraction of Tregs was lower in OTII than that in WT mice. Sepsis mortality was increased in OTII mice. Our data show that, in sepsis, partial activation of CD4⁺ T cells is induced by a T-cell receptor–independent pathway, whereas full stimulation and proliferation require a specific antigen. Antigen-dependent T-cell effector functions as well as Treg activity may contribute to sepsis survival.

CD4+VEGFR1(HIGH) T cell as a novel Treg subset regulates inflammatory bowel disease in lymphopenic mice

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a specialized subpopulation of T cells that control the immune response and thereby maintain immune system homeostasis and tolerance to self-antigens. Many subsets of CD4(+) Tregs have been identified, including Foxp3(+), Tr1, Th3, and Foxp3neg iT(R)35 cells. In this study, we identified a new subset of CD4(+)VEGFR1(high) Tregs that have immunosuppressive capacity. CD4(+)VEGFR1high T cells, which constitute approximately 1.0% of CD4(+) T cells, are hyporesponsive to T-cell antigen receptor stimulation. Surface marker and FoxP3 expression analysis revealed that CD4(+)VEGFR1(high) T cells are distinct from known Tregs. CD4(+)VEGFR1(high) T cells suppressed the proliferation of CD4(+)CD25(-) T cell as efficiently as CD4(+)CD25(high) natural Tregs in a contact-independent manner. Furthermore, adoptive transfer of CD4(+)VEGFR1(+) T cells from wild type to RAG-2-deficient C57BL/6 mice inhibited effector T-cell-mediated inflammatory bowel disease. Thus, we report CD4(+) VEGFR1(high) T cells as a novel subset of Tregs that regulate the inflammatory response in the intestinal tract.

αβ T cell receptors as predictors of health and disease

The diversity of antigen receptors and the specificity it underlies are the hallmarks of the cellular arm of the adaptive immune system. T and B lymphocytes are indeed truly unique in their ability to generate receptors capable of recognizing virtually any pathogen. It has been known for several decades that T lymphocytes recognize short peptides derived from degraded proteins presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules at the cell surface. Interaction between peptide-MHC (pMHC) and the T cell receptor (TCR) is central to both thymic selection and peripheral antigen recognition. It is widely assumed that TCR diversity is required, or at least highly desirable, to provide sufficient immune coverage. However, a number of immune responses are associated with the selection of predictable, narrow, or skewed repertoires and public TCR chains. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on the formation of the TCR repertoire and its maintenance in health and disease. We also outline the various molecular mechanisms that govern the composition of the pre-selection, naive and antigen-specific TCR repertoires. Finally, we suggest that with the development of high-throughput sequencing, common TCR 'signatures' raised against specific antigens could provide important diagnostic biomarkers and surrogate predictors of disease onset, progression and outcome.

TCR sequences and tissue distribution discriminate the subsets of naïve and activated/memory Treg cells in mice

Analyses of the regulatory T (Treg) cell TCR repertoire should help elucidate the nature and diversity of their cognate antigens and thus how Treg cells protect us from autoimmune diseases. We earlier identified CD44(hi) CD62L(low) activated/memory (am) Treg cells as a Treg-cell subset with a high turnover and possible self-specificity. We now report that amTreg cells are predominantly distributed in lymph nodes (LNs) draining deep tissues. Multivariate analyses of CDR3 spectratyping first revealed that amTreg TCR repertoire is different from that of naïve Treg cells (nTreg cells) and effector T (Teff) cells. Furthermore, in deep- versus superficial LNs, TCR-β deep sequencing further revealed diversified nTreg-cell and amTreg-cell repertoires, although twofold less diverse than that of Teff cells, and with repertoire richness significantly lower in deep-LN versus superficial-LN Treg cells. Importantly, expanded clonotypes were mostly detected in deep-LN amTreg cells, some accounting for 20% of the repertoire. Strikingly, these clonotypes were absent from nTreg cells, but found at low frequency in Teff cells. Our results, obtained in nonmanipulated mice, indicate different antigenic targets for naïve and amTreg cells and that amTreg cells are self-specific. The data we present are consistent with an instructive component in Treg-cell differentiation.

Intestinal mucosal tolerance and impact of gut microbiota to mucosal tolerance

The mucosal barriers are very sensitive to pathogenic infection, thereby assuming the capacity of the mucosal immune system to induce protective immunity to harmful antigens and tolerance against harmless substances. This review provides current information about mechanisms of induction of mucosal tolerance and about impact of gut microbiota to mucosal tolerance.

Limited niche availability suppresses murine intrathymic dendritic-cell development from noncommitted progenitors

The origins of dendritic cells (DCs) and other myeloid cells in the thymus have remained controversial. In this study, we assessed developmental relationships between thymic dendritic cells and thymocytes, employing retrovirus-based cellular barcoding and reporter mice, as well as intrathymic transfers coupled with DC depletion. We demonstrated that a subset of early T-lineage progenitors expressed CX3CR1, a bona fide marker for DC progenitors. However, intrathymic transfers into nonmanipulated mice, as well as retroviral barcoding, indicated that thymic dendritic cells and thymocytes were largely of distinct developmental origin. In contrast, intrathymic transfers after in vivo depletion of DCs resulted in intrathymic development of non-T-lineage cells. In conclusion, our data support a model in which the adoption of T-lineage fate by noncommitted progenitors at steady state is enforced by signals from the thymic microenvironment unless niches promoting alternative lineage fates become available.

Transient Treg-cell depletion in adult mice results in persistent self-reactive CD4(+) T-cell responses

Depletion of Foxp3(+) CD4(+) regulatory T cells (Treg) in adults results in chronic inflammation and autoimmune disease. However, the impact of transient Treg-cell depletion on self-reactive responses is poorly defined. Here, we studied the effect of transient depletion of Treg cells on CD4(+) T-cell responses to endogenous self-antigens. Short-term ablation of Treg cells in mice resulted in rapid activation of CD4(+) T cells, increased percentage of IFN-γ(+) and Th17 cells in lymphoid organs, and development of autoimmune gastritis. To track self-reactive responses, we analyzed the activation of naïve gastric-specific CD4(+) T cells. There was a dramatic increase in proliferation and acquisition of effector function of gastric-specific T cells in the stomach draining LNs of Treg-cell-depleted mice, compared with untreated mice, either during Treg-cell depletion or after Treg-cell reconstitution. Moreover, the hyperproliferation of gastric-specific T cells in the Treg-cell-ablated mice was predominantly antigen-dependent. Transient depletion of Treg cells resulted in a shift in the ratio of peripheral:thymic Treg cells in the reemerged Treg-cell population, indicating an altered composition of Treg cells. These findings indicate that transient Treg-cell depletion results in ongoing antigen-driven self-reactive T-cell responses and emphasize the continual requirement for an intact Treg-cell population.

Modeling the T cell immune response: a fascinating challenge

The immune system is designed to protect the organism from infection and to repair damaged tissue. An effective response requires recognition of the threat, the appropriate effector mechanism to clear the pathogen and a return to homeostasis with minimal damage to self-tissues. T cells play a central role in orchestrating the immune response at all stages of the response and have been the subject of intense study by both experimental immunologists and modelers. This review examines some of the more critical questions in T cell biology and describes the latest attempts to address those questions using approaches that combine mathematical modeling and experiments.

Resident CD4+ T cells accumulate in lymphoid organs after prolonged antigen exposure

Effector and memory CD4(+) T cells acquire distinct migratory properties depending on the type and location of the immune responses. Due to the highly dynamic nature of T cell circulation, the comprehensive analysis of these migratory routes requires dedicated experimental approaches. Here, we analyse the migration of effector/memory CD4(+) T cells by long-term in vivo cell tracking. We identify a resident population of antigen-experienced CD4(+) T cells that resides in lymph nodes and Peyer's patches without circulation or proliferation. Resident CD4(+) T cells constitute up to 50% of all effector/memory cells, including, but not limited to, follicular helper T cells. Furthermore, these non-circulating T cells possess a distinct T cell receptor repertoire and accumulate in Peyer's patches after continuous oral antigen exposure. Our results provide the first direct evidence for a resident population of effector/memory CD4(+) T cells that is retained in lymphoid tissues.

The bone marrow of myeloma patients is steadily inhabited by a normal-sized pool of functional regulatory T cells irrespectiveof the disease status

Conflicting data have been reported about the frequency and function of regulatory T cells in multiple myeloma. Most studies have investigated peripheral blood rather than bone marrow Tregs and side-by-side comparisons with bone marrow from healthy donors have still not been made. In this study, we show that regulatory T-cells total count, subset distribution, and expression of chemokine receptors are similar in the bone marrow of myeloma patients and healthy donors. Regulatory T cells are not recruited by myeloma cells in the bone marrow and their counts are unaffected by the tumor burden and the disease status. The diversity of T-cell receptor repertoire is highly preserved ensuring broad reactivity and effective suppressor function. Our results indicate that regulatory T cells may not be the main players of immunological tolerance to myeloma cells under base-line conditions, but their fully preserved immune competence may promote their inadvertent activation and blunt T-cell driven anti-myeloma immune interventions even after myeloma cells have successfully been cleared by chemotherapy.

MHC-derived allopeptide activates TCR-biased CD8+ Tregs and suppresses organ rejection

In a rat heart allograft model, preventing T cell costimulation with CD40Ig leads to indefinite allograft survival, which is mediated by the induction of CD8+CD45RClo regulatory T cells (CD8+CD40Ig Tregs) interacting with plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). The role of TCR-MHC-peptide interaction in regulating Treg activity remains a topic of debate. Here, we identified a donor MHC class II-derived peptide (Du51) that is recognized by TCR-biased CD8+CD40Ig Tregs and activating CD8+CD40Ig Tregs in both its phenotype and suppression of antidonor alloreactive T cell responses. We generated a labeled tetramer (MHC-I RT1.Aa/Du51) to localize and quantify Du51-specific T cells within rat cardiac allografts and spleen. RT1.Aa/Du51-specific CD8+CD40Ig Tregs were the most suppressive subset of the total Treg population, were essential for in vivo tolerance induction, and expressed a biased, restricted Vβ11-TCR repertoire in the spleen and the graft. Finally, we demonstrated that treatment of transplant recipients with the Du51 peptide resulted in indefinite prolongation of allograft survival. These results show that CD8+CD40Ig Tregs recognize a dominant donor antigen, resulting in TCR repertoire alterations in the graft and periphery. Furthermore, this allopeptide has strong therapeutic activity and highlights the importance of TCR-peptide-MHC interaction for Treg generation and function.

Homeostasis and function of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in vivo: lessons from TCR-transgenic Tregs

The identification of CD25 and subsequently Forkhead box protein 3 (Foxp3) as markers for regulatory T cells (Tregs) has revolutionized our ability to explore this population experimentally. In a similar vein, our understanding of antigen-specific Treg responses in vivo owes much to the fortuitous generation of T-cell receptor (TCR)-transgenic Tregs. This has permitted tracking of Tregs with a defined specificity in vivo, facilitating analysis of how encounter with cognate antigen shapes Treg homeostasis and function. Here, we review the key lessons learned from a decade of analysis of TCR-transgenic Tregs and set this in the broader context of general progress in the field. Use of TCR-transgenic Tregs has led to an appreciation that Tregs are a highly dynamic proliferative population in vivo, rather than an anergic population as they were initially portrayed. It is now clear that Treg homeostasis is positively regulated by encounter with self-antigen expressed on peripheral tissues, which is likely to be relevant to the phenomenon of peripheral repertoire reshaping that has been described for Tregs and the observation that the Treg TCR specificities vary by anatomical location. Substantial evidence has also accumulated to support the role of CD28 costimulation and interleukin-2 in Treg homeostasis. The availability of TCR-transgenic Tregs has enabled analysis of Treg populations that are sufficient or deficient in particular genes, without the comparison being confounded by repertoire alterations. This approach has yielded insights into genes required for Treg function in vivo, with particular progress being made on the role of ctla-4 in this context. As the prospect of manipulating Treg populations in the clinic becomes reality, a full appreciation of the rules governing their homeostasis will prove increasingly important.

IMGT/HighV QUEST paradigm for T cell receptor IMGT clonotype diversity and next generation repertoire immunoprofiling

T cell repertoire diversity and clonotype follow-up in vaccination, cancer, infectious and immune diseases represent a major challenge owing to the enormous complexity of the data generated. Here we describe a next generation methodology, which combines 5'RACE PCR, 454 sequencing and, for analysis, IMGT, the international ImMunoGeneTics information system (IMGT), IMGT/HighV-QUEST web portal and IMGT-ONTOLOGY concepts. The approach is validated in a human case study of T cell receptor beta (TRB) repertoire, by chronologically tracking the effects of influenza vaccination on conventional and regulatory T cell subpopulations. The IMGT/HighV-QUEST paradigm defines standards for genotype/haplotype analysis and characterization of IMGT clonotypes for clonal diversity and expression and achieves a degree of resolution for next generation sequencing verifiable by the user at the sequence level, while providing a normalized reference immunoprofile for human TRB.

Age-related decrease in TCR repertoire diversity measured with deep and normalized sequence profiling

The decrease of TCR diversity with aging has never been studied by direct methods. In this study, we combined high-throughput Illumina sequencing with unique cDNA molecular identifier technology to achieve deep and precisely normalized profiling of TCR β repertoires in 39 healthy donors aged 6-90 y. We demonstrate that TCR β diversity per 10(6) T cells decreases roughly linearly with age, with significant reduction already apparent by age 40. The percentage of naive T cells showed a strong correlation with measured TCR diversity and decreased linearly up to age 70. Remarkably, the oldest group (average age 82 y) was characterized by a higher percentage of naive CD4(+) T cells, lower abundance of expanded clones, and increased TCR diversity compared with the previous age group (average age 62 y), suggesting the influence of age selection and association of these three related parameters with longevity. Interestingly, cross-analysis of individual TCR β repertoires revealed a set >10,000 of the most representative public TCR β clonotypes, whose abundance among the top 100,000 clones correlated with TCR diversity and decreased with aging.

Distribution and clonality of the vα and vβ T-cell receptor repertoire of regulatory T cells in leukemia patients with and without graft versus host disease

Graft versus host disease (GVHD) is the main complication following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Recent data indicated that regulatory T (Treg) cells might relate to GVHD, and such functions might be mediated by certain T-cell receptor (TCR) subfamily of Treg cells. Thus, we analyzed the distribution and clonality of the TCR Vα and Vβ repertoire of Treg cells from leukemia patients with and without GVHD after allo-HSCT. Numerous TCR Vα subfamilies, including Vα1, Vα9, Vα13, Vα16-19, and Vα24-29, were absent in Treg cells after allo-HSCT. The usage numbers for the TCR Vα and Vβ subfamilies in Treg cells from patients without GVHD appeared more widely. The expression frequencies of Vα10 or Vα20 between both groups were significantly different. Moreover, the expression frequency of TCR Vβ2 subfamily in patients without GVHD was significantly higher than that in patients with GVHD. Oligoclonally expanded TCR Vα and Vβ Treg cells were identified in a few samples in both groups. Restricted utilization of the Vα and Vβ subfamilies and the absence of some important TCR rearrangements in Treg cells may be related to GVHD due to a lower regulating function of Treg subfamilies.

Regulatory T-cell differentiation and their function in immune regulation

Regulatory T-cells (Treg) represent a subset of CD4+ T-cells characterized by high suppressive capacity, which can be generated in the thymus or induced in the periphery. The deleterious phenotype of the Scurfy mouse, which develops an X-linked lymphoproliferative disease resulting from defective T-cell tolerance, clearly demonstrates the importance of Treg cells for the maintenance of immune homeostasis. Although significant progress has been achieved, much information regarding the development, characteristics and function of Treg cells remain lacking. This chapter highlights the most recent discoveries in the field of Treg biology, focusing on the development and role of this cell subset in the maintenance of immune balance.