Hepatic stellate cells preferentially induce Foxp3+ regulatory T cells by production of retinoic acid

J Immunol. 2013 Mar 1;190(5):2009-16. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1201937. Epub 2013 Jan 28.

Abstract

The liver has long been described as immunosuppressive, although the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are incompletely understood. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), a population of liver nonparenchymal cells, are potent producers of the regulatory T cell (Treg)-polarizing molecules TGF-β1 and all-trans retinoic acid, particularly during states of inflammation. HSCs are activated during hepatitis C virus infection and may therefore play a role in the enrichment of Tregs during infection. We hypothesized that Ag presentation in the context of HSC activation will induce naive T cells to differentiate into Foxp3(+) Tregs. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the molecular interactions between murine HSCs, dendritic cells, and naive CD4(+) T cells. We found that HSCs alone do not present Ag to naive CD4(+) T cells, but in the presence of dendritic cells and TGF-β1, preferentially induce functional Tregs. This Treg induction was associated with retinoid metabolism by HSCs and was dependent on all-trans retinoic acid. Thus, we conclude that HSCs preferentially generate Foxp3(+) Tregs and, therefore, may play a role in the tolerogenic nature of the liver.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation
  • Cell Communication / immunology
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Dendritic Cells / cytology
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / immunology*
  • Gene Expression
  • Hepatic Stellate Cells / cytology
  • Hepatic Stellate Cells / immunology*
  • Hepatic Stellate Cells / metabolism
  • Immune Tolerance
  • Liver / cytology
  • Liver / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / immunology
  • Tretinoin / metabolism*

Substances

  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxp3 protein, mouse
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Tretinoin