Identification and expansion of highly suppressive CD8+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells after experimental allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

RJ Robb, KE Lineburg, RD Kuns… - Blood, The Journal …, 2012 - ashpublications.org
RJ Robb, KE Lineburg, RD Kuns, YA Wilson, NC Raffelt, SD Olver, A Varelias, KA Alexander…
Blood, The Journal of the American Society of Hematology, 2012ashpublications.org
FoxP3+ confers suppressive properties and is confined to regulatory T cells (Treg) that
potently inhibit autoreactive immune responses. In the transplant setting, natural CD4+ Treg
are critical in controlling alloreactivity and the establishment of tolerance. We now identify an
important CD8+ population of FoxP3+ Treg that convert from CD8+ conventional donor T
cells after allogeneic but not syngeneic bone marrow transplantation. These CD8+ Treg
undergo conversion in the mesenteric lymph nodes under the influence of recipient dendritic …
Abstract
FoxP3+ confers suppressive properties and is confined to regulatory T cells (Treg) that potently inhibit autoreactive immune responses. In the transplant setting, natural CD4+ Treg are critical in controlling alloreactivity and the establishment of tolerance. We now identify an important CD8+ population of FoxP3+ Treg that convert from CD8+ conventional donor T cells after allogeneic but not syngeneic bone marrow transplantation. These CD8+ Treg undergo conversion in the mesenteric lymph nodes under the influence of recipient dendritic cells and TGF-β. Importantly, this population is as important for protection from GVHD as the well-studied natural CD4+FoxP3+ population and is more potent in exerting class I–restricted and antigen-specific suppression in vitro and in vivo. Critically, CD8+FoxP3+ Treg are exquisitely sensitive to inhibition by cyclosporine but can be massively and specifically expanded in vivo to prevent GVHD by coadministering rapamycin and IL-2 antibody complexes. CD8+FoxP3+ Treg thus represent a new regulatory population with considerable potential to preferentially subvert MHC class I–restricted T-cell responses after bone marrow transplantation.
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