Ex vivo-expanded CD4+CD25+ immunoregulatory T cells prevent graft-versus-host-disease by inhibiting activation/differentiation of pathogenic T cells

J Immunol. 2006 Jan 15;176(2):1266-73. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.176.2.1266.

Abstract

CD4+CD25+ immunoregulatory T cells (Tregs) can be administered to inhibit graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) while preserving graft-vs-leukemia activity after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in mice. Preclinical studies suggest that it is necessary to infuse as many Tregs as conventional donor T cells to achieve a clinical effect on GVHD. Thus, it would be necessary to expand Tregs ex vivo before transplantation. Two strategies have been proposed: expansion of Tregs stimulated by anti-CD3/CD28-coated microbeads for polyclonal activation or by host-type allogeneic APCs for selecting Tregs specific for host Ags. In this study, we describe the mechanisms by which ex vivo-expanded Tregs act on donor T cells to prevent GVHD in mice. We demonstrate that expanded Tregs strongly inhibited the division, expansion, and differentiation of donor T cells, with a more pronounced effect with Tregs specific for host Ags. These latter cells permit the efficient and durable control of GVHD and favor immune reconstitution.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation / immunology
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation / pathology
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Division
  • Female
  • Graft vs Host Disease / immunology*
  • Graft vs Host Disease / pathology
  • Graft vs Host Disease / prevention & control*
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C3H
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / pathology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • Tissue Donors