Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a specialized subpopulation of T cells that control the immune response and thereby maintain immune system homeostasis and tolerance to self-antigens. Many subsets of CD4+ Tregs have been identified, including FOXP3+, Tr1, Th3, and Foxp3neg iT(R)35 cells. In this study, we identified a new subset of CD4+ VEGFR1 high Tregs that have immunosuppressive capacity. CD4+ VEGFR1high T cells, which constitute approximately 1.0% of CD4+ T cells, are hyporesponsive to T-cell antigen receptor stimulation. Surface marker and FoxP3 expression analysis revealed that CD4+ VEGFR1 high T cells are distinct from known Tregs. CD4+ VEGFR1 high T cells suppressed the proliferation of CD4+ CD25 - T cell as efficiently as CD4+ CD25 high natural Tregs in a contact-independent manner. Furthermore, adoptive transfer of CD4+ VEGFR1 + T cells from wild type to RAG-2-deficient C57BL/6 mice inhibited effector T-cell-mediated inflammatory bowel disease. Thus, we report CD4+ VEGFR1 high T cells as a novel subset of Tregs that regulate the inflammatory response in the intestinal tract.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 592-603 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Cellular and Molecular Immunology |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 8 Sep 2015 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2014 CSI and USTC. All rights reserved.
Keywords
- inflammatory bowel disease
- regulatory T cells
- suppression
- vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1