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Updated: Apr 19, 2026

Mouse Naïve CD4+ T Cell Isolation and In vitro Differentiation into T Cell Subsets
Published on: April 16, 2015
Control of PI(3) kinase in Treg cells maintains homeostasis and lineage stability
Alexandria Huynh1, Michel DuPage2, Bhavana Priyadharshini3
11] Division of Medical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. [2] Center for Transplantation Sciences, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Abstract:
Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Treg cells) are required for immunological homeostasis. One notable distinction between conventional T cells (Tconv cells) and Treg cells is differences in the activity of phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase (PI(3)K); only Tconv cells downregulate PTEN, the main negative regulator of PI(3)K, upon activation. Here we found that control of PI(3)K in Treg cells was essential for lineage homeostasis and stability. Mice lacking Pten in Treg cells developed an autoimmune-lymphoproliferative disease characterized by excessive T helper type 1 (TH1) responses and B cell activation. Diminished control of PI(3)K activity in Treg cells led to reduced expression of the interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor α subunit CD25, accumulation of Foxp3(+)CD25(-) cells and, ultimately, loss of expression of the transcription factor Foxp3 in these cells. Collectively, our data demonstrate that control of PI(3)K signaling by PTEN in Treg cells is critical for maintaining their homeostasis, function and stability.
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