Abstract
CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (T-regs) are central to the maintenance of immune tolerance and represent an immune intervention candidate in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), a condition characterized by impaired T-reg number and function. We investigated whether T-regs can be expanded from the existing CD4+CD25+ T cell pool and generated de novo from CD4+CD25- T cells in AIH patients and healthy controls. Purified CD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD25- T cells from 24 patients with type 1 AIH and 22 healthy controls were cultured for up to 5 weeks with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 T cell expander and high-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2). Cell phenotypes, suppressor ability, forkhead winged/helix transcription factor box P3 (FOXP3) gene, and protein expression were assessed weekly by cytofluorimetry, proliferation assay, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and immunoblot. During culture, the number of CD4+CD25+ T cells derived from the existing T-reg pool (expanded T-regs) and generated de novo from CD4+CD25- T cells (newly generated T-regs) increased constantly up to week 4 in both healthy controls and, to a lesser extent, in AIH patients. Expanded T-regs retained conventional T-reg phenotype and, compared with baseline, demonstrated more vigorous suppressive function and increased FOXP3 gene and protein expression. Newly generated T-regs not only acquired T-reg phenotype but underwent greater growth and were more resistant to apoptosis than expanded T-regs. Their suppressive function augmented throughout culture, reaching a peak at week 4, preceded by a peak FOXP3 gene and protein expression at week 2. Suppressor function and FOXP3 expression of both expanded and newly generated T-regs were higher in normal controls than in AIH patients. Conclusion: Functionally enhanced T-regs can be expanded and generated de novo in patients with AIH. This finding may assist in reconstituting impaired immune regulation and restoring peripheral tolerance through T-reg infusion in this condition.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 581-591 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Hepatology |
| Volume | 47 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 2008 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Hepatology
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Expansion and de novo generation of potentially therapeutic regulatory T cells in patients with autoimmune hepatitis. / Longhi, Maria Serena; Meda, Francesca; Wang, Pengyun; Samyn, Marianne; Mieli-Vergani, Giorgina; Vergani, Diego; Ma, Yun.
In: Hepatology, Vol. 47, No. 2, 02.2008, p. 581-591.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Expansion and de novo generation of potentially therapeutic regulatory T cells in patients with autoimmune hepatitis
AU - Longhi, Maria Serena
AU - Meda, Francesca
AU - Wang, Pengyun
AU - Samyn, Marianne
AU - Mieli-Vergani, Giorgina
AU - Vergani, Diego
AU - Ma, Yun
PY - 2008/2
Y1 - 2008/2
N2 - CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (T-regs) are central to the maintenance of immune tolerance and represent an immune intervention candidate in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), a condition characterized by impaired T-reg number and function. We investigated whether T-regs can be expanded from the existing CD4+CD25+ T cell pool and generated de novo from CD4+CD25- T cells in AIH patients and healthy controls. Purified CD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD25- T cells from 24 patients with type 1 AIH and 22 healthy controls were cultured for up to 5 weeks with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 T cell expander and high-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2). Cell phenotypes, suppressor ability, forkhead winged/helix transcription factor box P3 (FOXP3) gene, and protein expression were assessed weekly by cytofluorimetry, proliferation assay, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and immunoblot. During culture, the number of CD4+CD25+ T cells derived from the existing T-reg pool (expanded T-regs) and generated de novo from CD4+CD25- T cells (newly generated T-regs) increased constantly up to week 4 in both healthy controls and, to a lesser extent, in AIH patients. Expanded T-regs retained conventional T-reg phenotype and, compared with baseline, demonstrated more vigorous suppressive function and increased FOXP3 gene and protein expression. Newly generated T-regs not only acquired T-reg phenotype but underwent greater growth and were more resistant to apoptosis than expanded T-regs. Their suppressive function augmented throughout culture, reaching a peak at week 4, preceded by a peak FOXP3 gene and protein expression at week 2. Suppressor function and FOXP3 expression of both expanded and newly generated T-regs were higher in normal controls than in AIH patients. Conclusion: Functionally enhanced T-regs can be expanded and generated de novo in patients with AIH. This finding may assist in reconstituting impaired immune regulation and restoring peripheral tolerance through T-reg infusion in this condition.
AB - CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (T-regs) are central to the maintenance of immune tolerance and represent an immune intervention candidate in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), a condition characterized by impaired T-reg number and function. We investigated whether T-regs can be expanded from the existing CD4+CD25+ T cell pool and generated de novo from CD4+CD25- T cells in AIH patients and healthy controls. Purified CD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD25- T cells from 24 patients with type 1 AIH and 22 healthy controls were cultured for up to 5 weeks with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 T cell expander and high-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2). Cell phenotypes, suppressor ability, forkhead winged/helix transcription factor box P3 (FOXP3) gene, and protein expression were assessed weekly by cytofluorimetry, proliferation assay, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and immunoblot. During culture, the number of CD4+CD25+ T cells derived from the existing T-reg pool (expanded T-regs) and generated de novo from CD4+CD25- T cells (newly generated T-regs) increased constantly up to week 4 in both healthy controls and, to a lesser extent, in AIH patients. Expanded T-regs retained conventional T-reg phenotype and, compared with baseline, demonstrated more vigorous suppressive function and increased FOXP3 gene and protein expression. Newly generated T-regs not only acquired T-reg phenotype but underwent greater growth and were more resistant to apoptosis than expanded T-regs. Their suppressive function augmented throughout culture, reaching a peak at week 4, preceded by a peak FOXP3 gene and protein expression at week 2. Suppressor function and FOXP3 expression of both expanded and newly generated T-regs were higher in normal controls than in AIH patients. Conclusion: Functionally enhanced T-regs can be expanded and generated de novo in patients with AIH. This finding may assist in reconstituting impaired immune regulation and restoring peripheral tolerance through T-reg infusion in this condition.
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U2 - 10.1002/hep.22071
DO - 10.1002/hep.22071
M3 - Article
VL - 47
SP - 581
EP - 591
JO - Hepatology
JF - Hepatology
SN - 0270-9139
IS - 2
ER -