Lehmann J, Huehn J, de la Rosa M, Maszyna F, Kretschmer U, Krenn V, Brunner M, Scheffold A, Hamann A. Expression of the integrin alpha Ebeta 7 identifies unique subsets of CD25+ as well as CD25- regulatory T cells.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2002;
99:13031-6. [PMID:
12242333 PMCID:
PMC130581 DOI:
10.1073/pnas.192162899]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 371] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory CD25(+)CD4(+) T cells are considered as important players in T cell homeostasis and self-tolerance. Here we report that the integrin alpha(E)beta(7), which recognizes epithelial cadherin, identifies the most potent subpopulation of regulatory CD25(+) T cells. Strikingly, CD25-negative alpha(E)+CD4(+) T cells displayed regulatory activity. Both alpha(E)+ subsets, CD25(+) and CD25(-), express CTLA-4, suppress T cell proliferation in vitro, and protect mice from colitis in the severe combined immunodeficient model (SCID) in vivo. Whereas alpha(E)+CD25(+) T cells produce almost no cytokines, alpha(E)+CD25(-) T cells represent a unique subset in which high IL-2, IFN-gamma and T helper 2-cytokine production is linked with suppressive function. Thus, the integrin alpha(E)beta(7) can be regarded as a novel marker for subsets of highly potent, functionally distinct regulatory T cells specialized for crosstalk with epithelial environments.
Collapse