Functionally distinct subsets of human FOXP3+ Treg cells that phenotypically mirror effector Th cells

Abstract

FOXP3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells are a broadly acting and potent anti-inflammatory population of CD4+ T cells essential for maintaining immune homeostasis and preventing debilitating autoimmunity. Based on chemokine receptor expression, we identified distinct populations of Treg cells in human blood expected to colocalize with different Th cell subsets. Although each population was functionally suppressive, they displayed unique patterns of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine production, differentially expressed lineage-specifying transcription factors, and responded differently to antigens associated with Th1 and Th17 responses. These results highlight a previously unappreciated degree of phenotypic and functional diversity in human Treg cells that allows subsets with unique specificities and immunomodulatory functions to be targeted to defined immune environments during different types of inflammatory responses.