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In Vivo Augmentation of Gut-Homing Regulatory T Cell Induction
Published on: January 22, 2020
CCR8 expression identifies CD4 memory T cells enriched for FOXP3+ regulatory and Th2 effector lymphocytes
Dulce Soler1, Tobias R Chapman, Louis R Poisson
1Inflammation, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. dsoler@mpi.com
Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
|November 4, 2006
Summary
Chemokine receptor CCR8 marks a subset of CD4+ T cells, including T regulatory and Th2 cells, crucial for allergic inflammation. These cells may be recruited to inflamed tissues, influencing allergic responses.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Allergy Research
Background:
- CD4+ Th2 cells regulate allergic inflammation.
- CCR8's role in Th2 responses is suggested but not fully defined in peripheral blood.
- Characterizing CCR8 expression is key to understanding its function in immune responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize leukocytes expressing CCR8 in peripheral blood across species.
- To determine the cytokine profile and homing potential of CCR8-expressing CD4+ T cells.
- To investigate the relationship between CCR8 and T regulatory cells (Tregs) and Th2 cells.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a fluorescent ligand (F-CCL1) selective for CCR8 to identify expressing cells.
- Analyzed CCR8 expression on CD4+ T cells in human, monkey, and mouse peripheral blood.
- Assessed cytokine production (IL-4, IL-13, IFN-gamma, IL-17) and cell surface markers (CLA, CCR7, CD62L, CD25, FOXP3) via flow cytometry.
Main Results:
- CCR8 is primarily expressed on a subset (15%) of human CD4+ memory T cells.
- CCR8+CD4+ T cells are enriched for Th2 cytokine producers (IL-4, IL-13) and T regulatory cells (FOXP3+).
- CCR8+CD4+ T cells exhibit a distinct cytokine profile upon activation, favoring Th2 and downregulating Th1/Th17 responses.
Conclusions:
- CCR8 identifies a unique CD4+ memory T cell population.
- This subset is significantly enriched for T regulatory and Th2 cells.
- CCR8+CD4+ T cells may play a role in recruiting immune cells to allergic inflammation sites.
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