Analysis of adhesion molecules, target cells, and role of IL-2 in human FOXP3+ regulatory T cell suppressor function

J Immunol. 2009 Mar 1;182(5):2929-38. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.0803827.

Abstract

FOXP3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) are central to the maintenance of self-tolerance and immune homeostasis. The mechanisms of action and cellular targets for Treg-mediated suppression remain controversial. The critical adhesion molecules utilized by Tregs for the interaction with their target cells have not been well characterized. We show that human CD4(+)FOXP3(+)CD25(high) cells (hTregs) suppress the activation of mouse responders as efficiently as mouse Tregs. LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18) on the hTregs is critical for their suppressor function, since suppression can be reversed with blocking anti-hCD11a or anti-hCD18 mAb. Tregs from patients with LFA-1 deficiency fail to suppress human and mouse responders. Mouse CD4(+) T cells deficient in ICAM-1 can be suppressed by hTregs, indicating that the hTregs target mouse dendritic cells (DCs) through the binding of human LFA-1 to mouse ICAM-1. Coculture of mouse DCs with hTregs, but not hTregs from LFA-1-deficient patients, prevented the up-regulation of CD80/CD86 on the DCs and their capacity to activate responder T cells. Lastly, IL-2 is not required for hTreg suppressor function under optimal stimulatory condition and IL-2 consumption plays no role in hTreg-mediated suppression. Taken together, one of the mechanisms of Treg-mediated suppression functions across species and mediates an LFA-1/ICAM-1-dependent interaction between Tregs and DCs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Cell Adhesion / genetics
  • Cell Adhesion / immunology
  • Cell Communication / genetics
  • Cell Communication / immunology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism*
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / biosynthesis*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppression Therapy*
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / analysis
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / genetics
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism*
  • Interleukin-2 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-2 / physiology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / analysis
  • Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism

Substances

  • FOXP3 protein, human
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • IL2 protein, human
  • Interleukin-2
  • Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1