Regulatory T cells negatively affect IL-2 production of effector T cells through CD39/adenosine pathway in HIV infection

PLoS Pathog. 2013;9(4):e1003319. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003319. Epub 2013 Apr 25.

Abstract

The mechanisms by which Regulatory T cells suppress IL-2 production of effector CD4+ T cells in pathological conditions are unclear. A subpopulation of human Treg expresses the ectoenzyme CD39, which in association with CD73 converts ATP/ADP/AMP to adenosine. We show here that Treg/CD39+ suppress IL-2 expression of activated CD4+ T-cells more efficiently than Treg/CD39-. This inhibition is due to the demethylation of an essential CpG site of the il-2 gene promoter, which was reversed by an anti-CD39 mAb. By recapitulating the events downstream CD39/adenosine receptor (A2AR) axis, we show that A2AR agonist and soluble cAMP inhibit CpG site demethylation of the il-2 gene promoter. A high frequency of Treg/CD39+ is associated with a low clinical outcome in HIV infection. We show here that CD4+ T-cells from HIV-1 infected individuals express high levels of A2AR and intracellular cAMP. Following in vitro stimulation, these cells exhibit a lower degree of demethylation of il-2 gene promoter associated with a lower expression of IL-2, compared to healthy individuals. These results extend previous data on the role of Treg in HIV infection by filling the gap between expansion of Treg/CD39+ in HIV infection and the suppression of CD4+ T-cell function through inhibition of IL-2 production.

MeSH terms

  • 5'-Nucleotidase / metabolism
  • Adenosine / metabolism
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antigens, CD / biosynthesis
  • Antigens, CD / immunology
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism*
  • Apyrase / biosynthesis
  • Apyrase / immunology
  • Apyrase / metabolism*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism
  • DNA Methylation
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • HIV-1 / immunology
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-2 / biosynthesis*
  • Interleukin-2 / genetics
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Receptor, Adenosine A2A / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens, CD
  • Interleukin-2
  • Receptor, Adenosine A2A
  • Cyclic AMP
  • 5'-Nucleotidase
  • Apyrase
  • CD39 antigen
  • Adenosine

Grants and funding

This work was supported by ANRS (Agence Nationale de Recherche contre le SIDA et les hépatites virales). JS receives supports from Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and FRQ-S. JPR receives supports from AIDS and Infectious Diseases Network of FRQ-S, Canadian HIV trial network and CIHR. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.