In vitro induced regulatory T cells are unique from endogenous regulatory T cells and effective at suppressing late stages of ongoing autoimmunity

PLoS One. 2014 Aug 13;9(8):e104698. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104698. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Strategies to boost the numbers and functions of regulatory T cells (Tregs) are currently being tested as means to treat autoimmunity. While Tregs have been shown to be effective in this role, strategies to manipulate Tregs to effectively suppress later stages of ongoing diseases need to be established. In this study, we evaluated the ability of TGF-β-induced Tregs (iTregs) specific for the major self-antigen in autoimmune gastritis to suppress established autoimmune gastritis in mice. When transferred into mice during later stages of disease, iTregs demethylated the Foxp3 promoter, maintained Foxp3 expression, and suppressed effector T cell proliferation. More importantly, these iTregs were effective at stopping disease progression. Untreated mice had high numbers of endogenous Tregs (enTregs) but these were unable to stop disease progression. In contrast, iTregs, were found in relatively low numbers in treated mice, yet were effective at stopping disease progression, suggesting qualitative differences in suppressor functions. We identified several inhibitory receptors (LAG-3, PD-1, GARP, and TNFR2), cytokines (TGF-β1 and IL12p35), and transcription factors (IRF4 and Tbet) expressed at higher levels by iTregs compared to enTregs isolated form mice with ongoing disease, which likely accounts for superior suppressor ability in this disease model. These data support efforts to use iTregs in therapies to treat establish autoimmunity, and show that iTregs are more effective than enTregs at suppressing inflammation in this disease model.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoantigens / immunology
  • Autoimmunity / immunology*
  • Costimulatory and Inhibitory T-Cell Receptors / metabolism
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gastritis / immunology*
  • Gastritis / prevention & control
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / classification
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / transplantation
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / immunology*

Substances

  • Autoantigens
  • Costimulatory and Inhibitory T-Cell Receptors
  • Cytokines
  • Transcription Factors
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta

Grants and funding

RJD: American Cancer Society Research Scholar Grant 12-171-01-LIB. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.