Mechanisms of regulatory T-cell induction by antigen-IgG-transduced splenocytes

B cells as effectors and regulators of autoimmunity

A classic understanding of the interplay between B and T cell components of the immune system that drive autoimmunity, where B cells provide an effector function, is represented by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune condition characterised by the production of auto-antibodies. In SLE, CD4+T cells provide cognate help to self-reactive B cells, which in turn produce pathogenic auto-antibodies (1). Thus, B cells act as effectors by producing auto-antibody aided by T cell help such that B and T cell interactions are unidirectional. However, this paradigm of B and T cell interactions is challenged by new clinical data demonstrating that B cell depletion is effective for T cell mediated autoimmune diseases including type I diabetes mellitus (T1D) (2), rheumatoid arthritis (3), and multiple sclerosis (4). These clinical data indicate a model whereby B cells can influence the developing autoimmune T cell response, and therefore act as effectors, in ways that extend beyond the production of autoantibody (5). In this review by largely focusing on type I diabetes we will develop a hypothesis that bi-directional B and T interactions control the course of autoimmunity.

How do regulatory T cells work?

CD4⁺ T cells are commonly divided into regulatory T (Treg) cells and conventional T helper (Th) cells. Th cells control adaptive immunity against pathogens and cancer by activating other effector immune cells. Treg cells are defined as CD4⁺ T cells in charge of suppressing potentially deleterious activities of Th cells. This review briefly summarizes the current knowledge in the Treg field and defines some key questions that remain to be answered. Suggested functions for Treg cells include: prevention of autoimmune diseases by maintaining self-tolerance; suppression of allergy, asthma and pathogen-induced immunopathology; feto-maternal tolerance; and oral tolerance. Identification of Treg cells remains problematic, because accumulating evidence suggests that all the presently-used Treg markers (CD25, CTLA-4, GITR, LAG-3, CD127 and Foxp3) represent general T-cell activation markers, rather than being truly Treg-specific. Treg-cell activation is antigen-specific, which implies that suppressive activities of Treg cells are antigen-dependent. It has been proposed that Treg cells would be self-reactive, but extensive TCR repertoire analysis suggests that self-reactivity may be the exception rather than the rule. The classification of Treg cells as a separate lineage remains controversial because the ability to suppress is not an exclusive Treg property. Suppressive activities attributed to Treg cells may in reality, at least in some experimental settings, be exerted by conventional Th cell subsets, such as Th1, Th2, Th17 and T follicular (Tfh) cells. Recent reports have also demonstrated that Foxp3⁺ Treg cells may differentiate in vivo into conventional effector Th cells, with or without concomitant downregulation of Foxp3.

The companions: regulatory T cells and gene therapy

Undesired immunological responses to products of therapeutic gene replacement have been obstacles to successful gene therapy. Understanding such responses of the host immune system to achieve immunological tolerance to a transferred gene product is therefore crucial. In this article, we review relevant studies of immunological responses to gene replacement therapy, the role of immunological tolerance mediated by regulatory T cells in down-regulating the unwanted immune responses, and the interrelationship of the two topics.

CD8+ regulatory T cells are responsible for GAD-IgG gene-transferred tolerance induction in NOD mice

Our previous studies demonstrated that lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated splenocytes, retrovirally transduced with a glutamate decarboxylate 65 (GAD) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) fusion construct, can protect non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice from diabetes by inducing GAD-specific tolerance, and also that there are increased numbers of CD4(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) in GAD-IgG-treated NOD mice. However, little is known about the role of CD8(+) Tregs in GAD-IgG gene-transferred tolerance induction in NOD mice. Here, we found that GAD-IgG-transduced splenocytes induced an increase in the number of CD8(+) Foxp3(+) Tregs in vitro. Using a T-cell depletion assay, we found that, compared with undepleted groups, NOD recipients transfused with CD8(-) or CD8(-) CD25(-) GAD-IgG-transduced splenocytes showed a decrease in the percentage of CD8(+) Foxp3(+) T cells, a high incidence of diabetes, serious insulitis, GAD-specific hyperresponsiveness at both the cellular and humoral levels, and changes in cytokine expression. These results indicate that CD8(+) Tregs, which were induced in vitro by GAD-IgG-transduced splenocytes, were also responsible for GAD-IgG gene-transferred tolerance induction in NOD mice.