Cutting edge: the Foxp3 target miR-155 contributes to the development of regulatory T cells

S Kohlhaas, OA Garden, C Scudamore… - The Journal of …, 2009 - journals.aai.org
S Kohlhaas, OA Garden, C Scudamore, M Turner, K Okkenhaug, E Vigorito
The Journal of Immunology, 2009journals.aai.org
Foxp3 is a transcription factor that is essential for the normal development of regulatory T
cells (Tregs). In the absence of microRNAs (miRNAs), Foxp3+ Tregs develop but fail to
maintain immune homeostasis, leading to a scurfy-like disease. Global analysis of the
network of genes regulated by Foxp3 has identified the miRNA miR-155, which is highly
expressed in Tregs, as a direct target of Foxp3. In this study we report that miR-155-deficient
mice have reduced numbers of Tregs, both in the thymus and periphery, due to impaired …
Abstract
Foxp3 is a transcription factor that is essential for the normal development of regulatory T cells (Tregs). In the absence of microRNAs (miRNAs), Foxp3+ Tregs develop but fail to maintain immune homeostasis, leading to a scurfy-like disease. Global analysis of the network of genes regulated by Foxp3 has identified the miRNA miR-155, which is highly expressed in Tregs, as a direct target of Foxp3. In this study we report that miR-155-deficient mice have reduced numbers of Tregs, both in the thymus and periphery, due to impaired development. However, we found no evidence for defective suppressor activity of miR-155-deficient Tregs, either in vitro or in vivo. Our results indicate that miR-155 contributes to Treg development, but that additional miRNAs control Treg function.
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