CD4+CD25+ cells regulate CD8 cell anergy in neonatal tolerant mice

BACKGROUND: Injection of neonatal BALB/c mice with semi-allogeneic splenocytes leads to antigen-specific tolerance lasting into adulthood. Tolerant mice accept A/J skin grafts and fail to generate CD8 cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity against A/J targets. Anergic CD8 T cells are present in tolerant mice, and CD4 regulatory cells function to maintain CD8 cell anergy. METHODS: Neonatal BALB/c mice were injected with 108 live CAF, splenocytes, and mice were deemed tolerant by accepting A/J grafts over 40 days. CD8 cell proliferation was measured by in vitro incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine coupled with fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis. Alloantigen-specific cytotoxicity was tested using 51Cr release assays of A/J or third-party targets. RESULTS: We demonstrate that A/J-specific anergic CD8 cells are present in neonatal primed mice that develop tolerance but not in neonatal primed mice that reject A/J skin grafts. Anergic CD8 cells show decreased proliferation and no CTL activity against A/J targets. Addition of interleukin-2 (IL-2) to unfractionated cultures fails to restore CTL activity against A/J targets. However, addition of IL-2 to CD4-depleted cultures restores A/J-specific CD8 CTL activity. Removal of CD4+/CD25+ cells, but not CD4+/CD25- cells, also restores CD8 CTL activity against A/J in the presence, but not the absence, of IL-2. Moreover, when added back into cultures, purified CD4+/CD25+ cells from tolerant mice inhibit the generation of CD8 CTL against A/J targets. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that CD8 anergy is associated with the state of tolerance, and that CD4+CD25+ cells from tolerant mice function to maintain A/J-specific CD8 cell anergy in vitro.     

Induction of xenoreactive CD4+ T-cell anergy by suppressor CD8+CD28- T cells

BACKGROUND: The underlying mechanism of immune suppression mediated by regulatory T cells is not completely understood. In previous studies we have shown that antigen-specific human T suppressor cells (Ts) can be generated in vitro by multiple rounds of stimulation with allogeneic, xenogeneic, or antigen-pulsed autologous antigen-presenting cells (APC). Human Ts express the CD8+CD28- phenotype and require specific recognition of MHC class I/peptide complexes on the surface of APC to block proliferation of T helper cells (Th). The aim of the present study was to explore the activation requirements of Ts as well as the nature of Th unresponsiveness to xenogeneic (swine) antigens induced by Ts. METHODS AND RESULTS: We investigated whether specific antigenic stimulation of Ts is required for their ability to inhibit early activation of xenoreactive Th (up-regulation of CD40 ligand). Flow cytometry studies indicated that Ts function required specific recognition of MHC class I on the surface of the stimulating APC. However, neither proliferation nor protein synthesis was required for the ability of Ts to inhibit Th. Ts drastically reduced the capacity of xenoreactive Th cells to produce interleukin (IL)-2 in response to the specific APC, without affecting their surface expression of IL-2 receptor. The suppressor effect that Ts exerted on Th proliferation could not be circumvented by CD40 ligation on the surface of the APC but could be reversed by the addition of exogenous IL-2. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that Ts induce anergy of xenoreactive human Th cells upon specific recognition of MHC class I antigens. Hence, Ts may prevent the activation of T cell-mediated immune responses against xenogeneic transplants.     

CD4+CD25-T淋巴细胞转化为CD4-CD8-调节T细胞的体外实验研究

目的 探讨体外诱导和纯化CD4+ CD25-T淋巴细胞(effector T cell,Teff)转化为CD4-CD8-双阴性调节T细胞(double negative regulatory T cell,DN Treg)的最适条件.方法 采用免疫磁珠分选方法提取C57BL/6小鼠的CD4+ CD25-T淋巴细胞、DBA/2小鼠的成熟树突状细胞共培养,加入不同剂量的IL-2,通过流式细胞检测CD4-CD8-T细胞的转化比例并确定最适条件,免疫磁珠阴性选择分选提纯转化的CD3+ CI4-CD8-T细胞,流式细胞仪检测转化的CD4-CD8-调节T细胞对CD4+ CD25-效应T细胞增殖抑制情况.结果 CD4+ CD25-T淋巴细胞与DBA/2小鼠的树突状细胞共培养6d后检测CD4-CD8-调节T细胞的转化比率为6.21％ ±2.03％,实验组加入不同浓度IL-2的转化率:A组(25 ng/ml)为14.77％±2.15％,B组(50 ng/ml)为21.29％±2.68％,C组(75 ng/ml)为43.45％ ±4.45％,D组(100 ng/ml)为28.59％±3.05％,IL-2浓度在75 ng/ml时,转化获得率最高(C组与对照组、实验A、B、D组比较分别t=10.700,8.288,6.158,3.932,均P＜0.05);分离提纯CD4-CD8-双阴性调节细胞纯度达到98.10％,CD4-CD8-双阴性调节细胞与CFSE染色的CD4+ CD25-T淋巴细胞、小鼠树突状细胞共培养6d,实验组增殖指数为1.15明显低于对照组2.07.结论 小鼠CD4+ CW25-T淋巴细胞在体外,成熟树突状细胞刺激下可转化为CD4-CD8-双阴性调节T细胞,IL-2可显著提高其转化率.     

Adoptive transfer of transplantation tolerance mediated by CD4+CD25+ and CD8+CD28- regulatory T cells induced by anti-donor-specific T-cell vaccination

Previous studies have shown that vaccinating rodents with anti-donor-specific T cells significantly prolonged allograft survival; however, the putative mechanism of the tolerance remains unclear. In this study, we used the model of heterotopic heart transplantation between the C57BL/6 donor mice and BALB/c recipient mice vaccinated with anti-donor (C57BL/6) or anti-third party (C3H)-specific T cells to determine whether T cells prolong survival of mouse heart allografts and which cells were involved in induction of allograft tolerance. We observed that the mean survival time (MST) of C57BL/6 heart grafts in BALB/c mice vaccinated with anti-C57BL/6 specific T cells (43.1 +/- 4.7 days) was prolonged from that in untreated BALB/c mice (9.5 +/- 1.1 days) or BALB/c mice receiving anti-C3H-specific T cells (10.4 +/- 1.9 days). These results suggested that alloantigen-specific T-cell vaccination significantly prolonged cardiac allograft survival. The CD4+CD25+ or CD8+CD28- T cells purified from splenocytes of BALB/c mice vaccinated with anti-donor-specific T cells proliferated markedly in response to irradiated anti-C57BL/6-specific T cells in vitro. Adoptive transfer of these CD4+CD25+ or CD8+CD28- T cells to na?ve syngenic mice significantly prolonged the survival of heart allografts. These data suggested that anti-donor-specific T-cell vaccination induced development of CD4+CD25+ or CD8+CD28- regulatory T cells, which in turn mediated allogeneic-specific tolerance.     

CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells mediate acquired transplant tolerance

The Holy Grail of clinical organ transplantation is the safe induction of allograft tolerance. Transplant tolerance has been successfully induced in animal models. Since T cells play a pivotal role in graft rejection, modulating T cell function has been the primary focus of studies aimed at inducing transplant tolerance. Rodent models of transplant tolerance induction include central deletion and peripheral mechanisms involving activation-induced cell death (AICD), anergy, immune deviation, and production of regulatory T cells. These mechanisms are not mutually exclusive. Although clonal deletion and anergy limit self-reactive T cells in the thymus, these mechanisms alone are not sufficient for controlling self-reactive T cells in the periphery. There is now evidence that the adult animal harbors two functionally distinct populations of CD4(+) T cells; one mediates autoimmune disease and the other dominantly inhibits it. The latter cells express CD4, CD25 and CTLA-4. These thymus-derived T cells have recently been shown to mediate the induction and maintenance of transplant tolerance. These CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells are similar in origin, phenotype, and function to those that maintain natural self-tolerance and T cell homeostasis in the periphery. Against this background, is it possible that alloantigen specific regulatory T cells might be generated and expanded ex vivo before organ transplantation and then infused to induce long-term tolerance, perhaps without the need for chronic immunosuppression?     

Relative Resistance of Human CD4+ Memory T Cells to Suppression by CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cells

Successful expansion of functional CD4⁺CD25⁺ regulatory T cells (T_reg) ex vivo under good manufacturing practice conditions has made T_reg‐cell therapy in clinical transplant tolerance induction a feasible possibility. In animals, T_reg cells home to both transplanted tissues and local lymph nodes and are optimally suppressive if active at both sites. Therefore, they have the opportunity to suppress both naïve and memory CD4⁺CD25^? T cells (Tresp). Clinical transplantation commonly involves depleting therapy at induction (e.g. anti‐CD25), which favors homeostatic expansion of memory T cells. Animal models suggest that T_reg cells are less suppressive on memory, compared with naïve Tresp that mediate allograft rejection. As a result, in the context of human T_reg‐cell therapy, it is important to define the effectiveness of T_reg cells in regulating naïve and memory Tresp. Therefore, we compared suppression of peripheral blood naïve and memory Tresp by fresh and ex vivo expanded T_reg cells using proliferation, cytokine production and activation marker expression (CD154) as readouts. With all readouts, naïve human Tresp were more suppressible by approximately 30% than their memory counterparts. This suggests that T_reg cells may be more efficacious if administered before or at the time of transplantation and that depleting therapy should be avoided in clinical trials of T_reg cells.     

Acceleration of apoptosis in CD4+CD8+ thymocytes by rapamycin accompanied by increased CD4+CD25+ T cells in the periphery

BACKGROUND: Rapamycin (Rapa) is an immunosuppressant that is used in patients and animal models to control allograft rejection. Its mechanisms of action are not fully understood. In this article, the authors have investigated the effects of therapeutic doses of Rapa on both thymic and peripheral T-cell populations in the adult rat. METHODS: The therapeutic dosage of Rapa was optimized using cardiac transplantation between LEW and DA rats. Thymic morphology was assessed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Flow cytometric analysis was performed to analyze T-cell phenotype and apoptosis. T-cell receptor (TCR)-mediated T-cell responsiveness was evaluated by 3[H]-thymidine deoxyribose incorporation. RESULTS: Rapa induced atrophy in the thymus but not in peripheral lymphoid organs. Moreover, fibrosis occurred in thymus that was long-lasting after Rapa withdrawal. In animals treated with Rapa, there was a significant reduction in CD4+CD8+ thymocytes caused by accelerated apoptosis, whereas CD4-CD8-, CD4+CD8-, and CD8+CD4- populations remained unaffected. In contrast, the cellularity of the periphery lymphoid organs was not altered. Within the CD4+ thymocyte population, CD4+CD25+ thymocytes were resistant to Rapa-accelerated apoptosis, and in the periphery, the ratio of CD4+CD25+ to CD4+CD25- T cells was increased. Notably, the peripheral CD4+CD25+ T cells were hyporesponsive to TCR-mediated activation. CONCLUSIONS: The resistance of the peripheral CD4+CD25+ T cells to Rapa treatment might contribute to its immunosuppressive action. The long-term effects of Rapa on thymus atrophy and thymocyte development requires consideration with respect to its clinical application.     

Expansion of CD25+CD4+ regulatory T cells by natural mature dendritic cells

Because of the anergy of CD25+CD4+ regulatory T cells, it is unclear how the number of these regulatory T cells is sustained and expanded in normal physiologic circumstances. In the present study, we examined the effect of natural allogeneic mature dendritic cells (DCs) on the proliferation and function of CD25+CD4+ T cells. Our data showed that natural allogeneic mature DCs stimulated CD25+CD4+ T-cell growth vigorously, whereas immature DCs had little effect on the proliferation of CD25+CD4+ T cells. After expansion by mature DCs, CD25+CD4+ T cells maintained their expression of Foxp3 and suppressed the proliferation of CD25- CD4+ T cells similar to freshly isolated CD25+CD4+ T cells. Our results introduce a potentially critical role played by natural allogeneic mature DCs, which exist in normal physiologic circumstances, in controlling CD25+CD4+ regulatory T-cell expansion and function.     

大鼠CD4^＋CD25^＋调节性T细胞的分离及功能鉴定

目的：研究利用免疫磁珠分选法稳定分离正常大鼠脾脏CD4^＋CD25^＋调节性T细胞的方法。方法：采用免疫磁珠两步法分离大鼠脾组织CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞。首先采用藻红蛋白（PE）标记的抗CD25抗体和抗PE多功能磁珠试剂盒阳性分选CD25^＋T细胞,再用抗异硫氰酸荧光素（FITC）标记抗体和抗IgG磁珠阳性分选获得CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞。分离后的细胞经流式细胞仪检测分离纯度,台盼蓝染色检测细胞存活率,体外增殖实验检测其对CD4^＋CD25^-T细胞的免疫抑制作用。结果：两次阳性分选后获得的CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞纯度为（90.4±1.6）%,细胞存活率为（92.6±2.4）%。体外增殖实验表明,CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞能明显抑制CD4^＋CD25^-T细胞的增殖（P〈0.01）。结论：采用免疫磁珠法两次阳性分选,可稳定地获得纯度理想并有免疫抑制功能的大鼠CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞。     

肿瘤坏死因子-α诱导蛋白-8样分子2在调节性T细胞中的表达

目的:观察肿瘤坏死因子-α诱导蛋白-8样分子2(TIPE2)在CD4<'+>CD25<'+>调节性T细胞(CD4<'+>CD25<'+>Treg)中的表达.方法:免疫磁珠法分离正常BALB/C小鼠脾脏CD4<'+>CD25<'+>Tregs,流式细胞术鉴定CD4<'+>CD25<'+>Treg的纯度.激光共聚焦荧光法检...     

CD4+CD25+调节性T细胞/辅助性T细胞17在脓毒症大鼠中的作用

目的 观察CD4+ CD25+调节T细胞(Treg)/辅助性T细胞17(Th17)细胞在脓毒症大鼠炎性免疫反应中的作用.方法 110只雄性SD大鼠随机分为正常对照组、假手术组、脓毒症(CLP)组,采用改良的盲肠结扎穿孔术(CLP)制作大鼠脓毒症模型.采用流式细胞术检测CD14+单核细胞表面人类白细胞抗原-DR基因(HLA-DR)表达率、Treg细胞及TH17细胞比例;酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)检测白细胞介素(IL)-6、IL-10、肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)-α、转化生长因子(TGF)-β、白细胞介素(IL)-17炎性因子蛋白表达.结果 与假手术组比较:(1)伴随着脓毒症病情的发展,大鼠出现明显的免疫抑制,CD14+单核细胞HLA-DR表达率＜30％,IL-10/TNF-α比值(27.41 ±7.04比6.63 ±2.60)明显增高(P＜0.01).(2)术后96 h脓毒症大鼠Treg细胞[(11.91±3.88)％比(6.57±2.60)％,P＜0.01]和Th17细胞[(5.14±0.29)％比(2.85±0.07)％,P＜0.01]表达明显增高.(3)术后96 h脓毒症组前炎性细胞因子IL-6[(42.31±15.89) ng/L比(6.32 ±3.18) ng/L,P＜0.01]、IL-10[(69.89 ±20.78) ng/L比(13.58±5.37) ng/L,P＜0.01]、TNF-α[(5.03±3.10) ng/L比(2.77±1.10) ng/L,P＜0.01]、TGF-β[(4.99±2.01) ng/L比(1.88±1.07) ng/L,P＜0.01]、IL-17[(92.77±11.64) ng/L比(7.58±2.30) ng/L,P＜0.01]表达明显增高.结论 伴随着脓毒症病情的发展,大鼠出现明显的免疫抑制;在大鼠脓毒症的发生发展中,Treg细胞介导的免疫抑制及Th17细胞介导免疫激活反应同时存在;脓毒症细胞因子微环境变化可能是导致Treg细胞/Th17细胞失衡的原因之一.     

CD4+CD25+T细胞对同种异体小鼠心脏移植的免疫调节作用

目的 观察CD4+CD25+T细胞(Treg)对小鼠同种异体心脏移植的免疫调节作用.方法 流式细胞仪检测正常小鼠和胸腺切除+PC61小鼠淋巴结、脾脏和外周血的Treg的比例.将供体鼠BALB/C心脏移植到受体鼠B6腹腔内,观察对照组(n=6)、胸腺切除组(THY,n=8)、hCTLA4Ig组(n=8)、DST+hCTLA4Ig组(n=8)和THY+PC61+DST+hCTLA4Ig组(n=6)小鼠心脏移植后生存时间和移植心脏病理学检查.结果 正常B6小鼠淋巴结、脾脏和外周血的Treg的比例分别为5.1%、4.5%和1. 7%,明显高于胸腺切除+PC61处理组(1. 8%、1.7%、0.7%).移植心脏平均存活时间在对照组和胸腺切除组分别为(8.2±2.9)d和(7.6±3.0)d,两组间差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05);而在hCTLA4Ig组和DST+hCTLA4Ig组分别为(43.0±11.8)d和(135.0±29.7)d,均较对照组或胸腺切除组明显延长(P＜0.01);THY+PC61+DST+hCTLA4Ig组移植心脏平均存活时间(25.8±8.9)d,也明显较对照组明显延长,但短于hCTLA4Ig组和DST+hCTLA4Ig组(P＜0.01).DST+hCTLA4Ig组移植的心脏存活时间(135.0±29.7)d明显高于其他各组(P＜0.01),其病理组织学表现为间质内有较多的淋巴细胞浸润,伴毛细血管增生,管壁增厚,间质纤维化.结论 CD4+CD25+T细胞水平对同种异体心脏移植的免疫耐受具有免疫调节作用.

Abstract：

Objective To investigate the immunoregulation effects of CD4 + CD25 + T cells in mice heart allograft transplantation. Methods Flow cytometry was used to analyze the contents of CD4 + CD25 +T regulatory cells (Tregs) of the lymph nodes, spleen and blood in the normal mice group and the thymusectomy (THY) + PC61 group. BALB/C mice served as the donors and C57BL/6 (B6) mice as the recipients. Five groups were established, including control group ( n = 6 ), THY group ( n = 8 ), hCTLA4Ig group ( n = 8 ), DST ( donor-specific T-depleted spleen cells) + hCTLA4Ig group ( n = 8) and THY + PC61+ DST + hCTLA4Ig group (n = 6). The survival time after heart allograft transplantation was observed and pathological examination was done in different groups. Results In control group, the rate of Tregs in lymph nodes, spleen and blood was 5. 1%, 4. 5% and 1.7% respectively, which was significantly higher than in THY + PC61 group ( 1. 8% , 1. 7% and 0. 7% respectively). The average survival time of control and THY groups was 8. 2 ± 2.9 and 7.6 ± 3. 0 days respectively ( P ＞ 0. 05 ). The average survival time of hCTLA4Ig and DST + hCTLA4Ig groups was 43.0 ± 11.8 and 135.0 ± 29. 7 days respectively, which was significantly longer than in control group or THY group ( P ＜0. 01 ). The average survival time of THY +PC61 + DST + hCTLA4Ig group was 25.8 ± 8.9 days, which was significantly longer than in control group,but shorter than in hCTLA4Ig group or DST + hCTLA4Ig group ( P ＜ 0. 01 ). The survival time in DST +hCTLA4Ig group was 135.0 ± 29. 7 days, which was significantly longer than other groups ( P ＜ 0. 01 ).The pathological examination revealed that there were more lymphocytes infiltration and capillary vessel proliferation in the desmohemoblast in the transplanted heart of DST + hCTLA4Ig group. Conclusion CD4 +CD25 +T cells regulate the immune tolerance in the allograft transplantation.     

CD8 T cells are not required for islet destruction induced by a CD4+ islet-specific T-cell clone.

A panel of CD4+ T-cell clones has been isolated from the spleen and lymph nodes of diabetic NOD mice. These clones have been shown to be islet-specific both in vivo and in vitro. One of the clones, BDC-6.9, initiates extensive damage to islet tissue when placed adjacent to an NOD islet graft that has been used to reverse diabetes in (CBA x NOD)F1 recipients or when injected intraperitoneally into such animals. In this study, we show that BDC-6.9 T cells can initiate islet destruction in the absence of detectable CD8 T cells either in the periphery or in the lesion that develops after the transfer of the cloned islet-reactive T cells.     

Characterization of naturally occurring CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in rhesus monkeys

BACKGROUND: Translational research in a relevant preclinical model is recommended before Treg-inducing protocols can be implemented in humans. We have characterized rhesus monkey CD25 cells phenotypically and functionally. METHODS: The phenotype of CD4(+)CD25(high) cells was determined by FACS, focusing on established markers of mouse and human Treg cells. Percentages of cells positive for CD45RA, CD62L, and intracellular CTLA-4 and FOXP3 were compared between CD4(+)CD25(high) and CD4(+)CD25(-) cells. CD25 cells stimulated with anti-CD3, ConA, and/or allogeneic peripheral blood mononuclear cells were mixed with freshly isolated CD25 cells. The suppressive activity of the CD25 cells in vitro was assessed using several experimental conditions. RESULTS: Rhesus monkey CD4(+)CD25(high) cells expressed high intracellular levels of CTLA-4 and FOXP3, whereas expression was negligible in CD4(+)CD25(-) cells. The CD25(high) population was mostly CD45RA(-), indicative of a memory phenotype. The CD25(+) cells were anergic, because they showed low proliferative responses, no interleukin-2 production, and some interferon-gamma and interleukin-10 production. Proliferation of CD4(+)CD25(-) cells stimulated by anti-CD3 or allogeneic cells was decreased when CD4(+)CD25(-) cells were added at a 1:1 ratio. In addition, we found that CD25 cells inhibited the interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma production by anti-CD3-stimulated CD25 cells in a dose-dependent fashion, through a cell-cell contact-dependent mechanism. CONCLUSIONS: Rhesus monkey CD4(+)CD25(+) cells have similar phenotypic and functional characteristics as natural Tregs in humans. These findings allow testing of Treg expansion and induction protocols in a relevant preclinical model, the rhesus monkey.     

Increased thymocyte CD4+CD8+ cells and T-cell receptor beta gene rearrangements in thymoma

Epithelial cells in thymoma and thymic carcinoma may influence T-cell development in the tumor. In this study, we investigated the cell surface phenotype and T-cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangement of thymocytes in thymic tumors. TCR rearrangement was observed in all cases of thymoma (A, AB, B1–2). A faint band in each digestion suggested the deletion between D1 to C1 or D1 to J2, and an additional rearrangement band with BamHI suggested the rearrangement between D1 to J1. High percentages of CD1+ cells and CD4+CD8+ (DP) cells were detected in all cases of thymoma (A, AB, B1–2). There are two kinds of cell surface phenotypes increased in populations of thymoma; one is increased DP cells and the other is a relatively low percentage of DP cells accompanied by a relatively high percentage of CD3+CD69+ cells. These findings suggest that thymocytes in thymoma are derived from immature T-cell expansion.     

CD4+CD25+调节性T细胞在肿瘤免疫中的作用研究

CD4+CD25+调节性T细胞(Treg)在自身免疫耐受、免疫自稳、肿瘤免疫中发挥着重要作用,它可以抑制自身抗原或者非自身抗原如肿瘤抗原引起的免疫反应.人们对Treg细胞的免疫抑制作用已进行了相关的研究和临床应用,最新研究表明其能够诱导肿瘤特异性抗原和局部的免疫反应.此综述将讨论Treg细胞的相关表面分子及其在肿瘤免疫...