Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2026

In Vitro Differentiation of Human CD4+FOXP3+ Induced Regulatory T Cells (iTregs) from Naïve CD4+ T Cells Using a TGF-β-containing Protocol
Published on: December 30, 2016
Transforming growth factor beta induced FoxP3+ regulatory T cells suppress Th1 mediated experimental colitis
M C Fantini1, C Becker, I Tubbe
1Laboratory of Immunology, I Medical Clinic, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
Background And Aims:
The imbalance between effector and regulatory T cells plays a central role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases. In addition to the thymus, CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells can be induced in the periphery from a population of CD25- T cells by treatment with transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta). Here, we analysed the in vivo function of TGF-beta induced regulatory T (Ti-Treg) cells in experimental colitis.
Methods:
Ti-Treg cells were generated in cell culture in the presence or absence of TGF-beta and tested for their regulatory potential in experimental colitis using the CD4+CD62L+ T cell transfer model.
Results:
Ti-Treg cells significantly suppressed Th1 mediated colitis on CD4+CD62L+ T cell transfer in vivo, as shown by high resolution endoscopy, histology, immunohistochemistry, and cytokine analysis. Further analysis of in vivo and in vitro expanded Ti-Treg cells showed that exogenous interleukin 2 (IL-2) was crucial for survival and expansion of these cells.
Conclusion:
Our data suggest that regulatory Ti-Treg cells expand by TGF-beta and exogenous IL-2 derived from effector T cells at the site of inflammation. In addition to Tr1 and thymic CD4+CD25+ T cells, peripheral Ti-Treg cells emerge as a class of regulatory T cells with therapeutic potential in T cell mediated chronic intestinal inflammation.
Related Concept Videos
TGF - β Signaling Pathway
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease

