Promotion of allograft survival by CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells: evidence for in vivo inhibition of effector cell proliferation

J Immunol. 2004 Jun 1;172(11):6539-44. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.172.11.6539.

Abstract

Regulatory T cells preserve tolerance to peripheral self-Ags and may control the response to allogeneic tissues to promote transplantation tolerance. Although prior studies have demonstrated prolonged allograft survival in the presence of regulatory T cells (T-reg), data documenting the capacity of these cells to promote tolerance in immunocompetent transplant models are lacking, and the mechanism of suppression in vivo remains unclear. We used a TCR transgenic model of allograft rejection to characterize the in vivo activity of CD4(+)CD25(+) T-reg. We demonstrate that graft Ag-specific T-reg effectively intercede in the rejection response of naive T cells to established skin allografts. Furthermore, CFSE labeling demonstrates impaired proliferation of naive graft Ag-specific T cells in the draining lymph node in the presence of T-reg. These results confirm the efficacy of T-reg in promoting graft survival and suggest that their suppressive action is accomplished in part through inhibition of proliferation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Differentiation / physiology
  • CD4 Antigens / analysis*
  • CTLA-4 Antigen
  • Graft Rejection / prevention & control
  • Graft Survival*
  • Interleukin-10 / physiology
  • Lymphocyte Activation*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2 / analysis*
  • Skin Transplantation
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / physiology
  • Transplantation, Homologous

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Differentiation
  • CD4 Antigens
  • CTLA-4 Antigen
  • Ctla4 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Interleukin-10