Cutting edge: TGF-beta1 and IL-15 Induce FOXP3+ gammadelta regulatory T cells in the presence of antigen stimulation

J Immunol. 2009 Sep 15;183(6):3574-7. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.0901334. Epub 2009 Aug 26.

Abstract

Several subsets of alphabeta regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been described and studied intensively, but the potential regulatory role of gammadelta T cells remains largely unclear. Lymphocytes expressing gammadelta TCR are involved in both innate and adaptive immune responses, and their major adult human peripheral blood subset (Vgamma9Vdelta2) displays a broad reactivity against microbial agents and tumors. In this study we report that gammadelta T lymphocytes with regulatory functions (Vdelta2 Tregs) are induced in vitro in the presence of specific Ag stimulation and cytokines (TGF-beta1 and IL-15). These cells express FOXP3 and, similarly as alphabeta Tregs, suppress the proliferation of anti-CD3/anti-CD28 stimulated-PBMC. Phenotypic and functional analyses of Vdelta2 Tregs will very likely improve our understanding about the role of gammadelta T cells in the pathogenesis of autoimmune, infectious, and neoplastic diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antigen Presentation*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytokines
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-15 / physiology*
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / cytology
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / physiology*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • FOXP3 protein, human
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Interleukin-15
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1