Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026

In Vivo Augmentation of Gut-Homing Regulatory T Cell Induction
Published on: January 22, 2020
Characterization of FOXP3+CD4+ regulatory T cells in Crohn's disease
Masayuki Saruta1, Qi T Yu, Phillip R Fleshner
1Burns and Allen Research Institute, Division of Gastroenterology and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
FOXP3(+)CD4(+) regulatory T cells (T(R)) have emerged as important regulators of immune responses. The aim of our study was to assess the frequency and functional characteristics of FOXP3(+)CD4(+) T(R) in Crohn's disease (CD). We report that FOXP3(+)CD4(+) T(R) cells are expanded in mucosal lymphoid tissues (lamina propria and MLN) but are decreased in the PB in active CD. Patients treated with thiopurines, but not steroids or anti-TNF-alpha inhibitors, have a lower frequency of PB FOXP3(+)CD4(+) T(R) (7.8+/-2.4% vs. 9.9+/-1.8%, p=0.01). FOXP3(+) cells were localized in the lamina propria (LP), muscularis mucosa and serosa and accumulated in granulomas, whereas in MLN they localize in the T cell rich areas. MLN CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells from both CD and normal intestine efficiently suppress the proliferation of effector CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells. T cell activation of MLN in vitro with anti-CD3 plus anti-CD28 Abs enhances the expression of FOXP3, both at the protein and transcriptional level, which is further enhanced by the addition of TGF-beta. In summary, there is an expansion of FOXP3(+)CD4(+) T(R) cells in mucosal lymphoid tissues in CD; they accumulate in areas of active inflammation, including granulomas and retain potent regulatory activity ex vivo.
FOXP3(+)CD4(+) regulatory T cells (T(R)) have emerged as important regulators of immune responses. The aim of our study was to assess the frequency and functional characteristics of FOXP3(+)CD4(+) T(R) in Crohn's disease (CD). We report that FOXP3(+)CD4(+) T(R) cells are expanded in mucosal lymphoid tissues (lamina propria and MLN) but are decreased in the PB in active CD. Patients treated with thiopurines, but not steroids or anti-TNF-alpha inhibitors, have a lower frequency of PB FOXP3(+)CD4(+) T(R) (7.8+/-2.4% vs. 9.9+/-1.8%, p=0.01). FOXP3(+) cells were localized in the lamina propria (LP), muscularis mucosa and serosa and accumulated in granulomas, whereas in MLN they localize in the T cell rich areas. MLN CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells from both CD and normal intestine efficiently suppress the proliferation of effector CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells. T cell activation of MLN in vitro with anti-CD3 plus anti-CD28 Abs enhances the expression of FOXP3, both at the protein and transcriptional level, which is further enhanced by the addition of TGF-beta. In summary, there is an expansion of FOXP3(+)CD4(+) T(R) cells in mucosal lymphoid tissues in CD; they accumulate in areas of active inflammation, including granulomas and retain potent regulatory activity ex vivo.
Related Concept Videos
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Biologic Agents: Anti-TNF
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents
Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by transmural...
T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
