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Mouse Naïve CD4+ T Cell Isolation and In vitro Differentiation into T Cell Subsets
Published on: April 16, 2015
DC activated via dectin-1 convert Treg into IL-17 producers
Fabiola Osorio1, Salomé LeibundGut-Landmann, Matthias Lochner
1Immunobiology Laboratory, Cancer Research UK, London Research Institute, Lincoln's Inn Fields Laboratories, London, UK.
European Journal of Immunology
|November 29, 2008
Summary
Regulatory T cells (Treg) can convert into a hybrid T cell type that produces IL-17, challenging their purely anti-inflammatory role. This finding suggests Treg may have pro-inflammatory functions in certain immune responses.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- T helper 17 (Th17) cells are pro-inflammatory, while regulatory T cells (Treg) are anti-inflammatory.
- Th17 and Treg cells are typically defined by distinct transcription factors: ROR-gammat for Th17 and Foxp3 for Treg.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the plasticity of Treg cells.
- To determine if Treg cells can acquire characteristics of Th17 cells.
Main Methods:
- Coculture of mouse CD25(+)Foxp3(+) Treg with dendritic cells (DCs) activated via dectin-1.
- Analysis of transcription factor expression (Foxp3, ROR-gammat) and cytokine production (IL-17).
Main Results:
- Mouse Treg cells converted into a hybrid population expressing both Foxp3 and ROR-gammat.
- These hybrid cells produced IL-17.
- Conversion was dependent on IL-23 produced by DCs activated through dectin-1.
- Only Foxp3(+)ROR-gammat(+) Treg converted, not Foxp3(+)ROR-gammat(-) Treg.
Conclusions:
- Foxp3(+) Treg cells can acquire IL-17-producing capacity while maintaining Foxp3 expression.
- This suggests a potential pro-inflammatory role for Treg cells in specific immune contexts.
- Immune cell plasticity challenges traditional definitions of immune cell subsets.
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