Antigen-specific T cell repertoire modification of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells

J Immunol. 2004 May 1;172(9):5240-8. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.172.9.5240.

Abstract

T cell immune responses are regulated by the interplay between effector and suppressor T cells. Immunization with Ag leads to the selective expansion and survival of effector CD4(+) T cells with high affinity TCR against the Ag and MHC. However, it is not known if CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (T(reg)) recognize the same Ag as effector T cells or whether Ag-specific TCR repertoire modification occurs in T(reg). In this study, we demonstrate that after a primary Ag challenge, T(reg) proliferate and TCR repertoire modification is observed although both of these responses were lower than those in conventional T cells. The repertoire modification of Ag-specific T(reg) after primary Ag challenge augmented the total suppressive function of T(reg) against TCR repertoire modification but not against the proliferation of memory CD4(+) T cells. These results reveal that T cell repertoire modification against a non-self Ag occurs in T(reg), which would be crucial for limiting excess primary and memory CD4(+) T cell responses. In addition, these studies provide evidence that manipulation of Ag-specific T(reg) is an ideal strategy for the clinical use of T(reg).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation
  • Antigens / administration & dosage
  • Antigens / immunology
  • Antigens / metabolism
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology
  • Cell Division / immunology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Columbidae
  • Complementarity Determining Regions / biosynthesis
  • Cytochromes c / administration & dosage
  • Cytochromes c / immunology
  • Cytochromes c / metabolism
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology*
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / metabolism
  • Immunization, Secondary
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred A
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / biosynthesis
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / transplantation

Substances

  • Antigens
  • Complementarity Determining Regions
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
  • Cytochromes c