CD25- T cells generate CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells by peripheral expansion

Naturally occurring CD4(+) regulatory T cells are generally identified through their expression of CD25. However, in several experimental systems considerable T(reg) activity has been observed in the CD4(+)CD25(-) fraction. Upon adoptive transfer, the expression of CD25 in donor-derived cells is not stable, with CD4(+)CD25(+) cells appearing in CD4(+)CD25(-) T cell-injected animals and vice versa. We show in this study that CD25(+) cells arising from donor CD25(-) cells upon homeostatic proliferation in recipient mice express markers of freshly isolated T(reg) cells, display an anergic state, and suppress the proliferation of other cells in vitro. The maintenance of CD25 expression by CD4(+)CD25(+) cells depends on IL-2 secreted by cotransferred CD4(+)CD25(-) or by Ag-stimulated T cells in peripheral lymphoid organs.     

CD8+ T cell immunity against a tumor/self-antigen is augmented by CD4+ T helper cells and hindered by naturally occurring T regulatory cells

CD4(+) T cells control the effector function, memory, and maintenance of CD8(+) T cells. Paradoxically, we found that absence of CD4(+) T cells enhanced adoptive immunotherapy of cancer when using CD8(+) T cells directed against a persisting tumor/self-Ag. However, adoptive transfer of CD4(+)CD25(-) Th cells (Th cells) with tumor/self-reactive CD8(+) T cells and vaccination into CD4(+) T cell-deficient hosts induced autoimmunity and regression of established melanoma. Transfer of CD4(+) T cells that contained a mixture of Th and CD4(+)CD25(+) T regulatory cells (T(reg) cells) or T(reg) cells alone prevented effective adoptive immunotherapy. Maintenance of CD8(+) T cell numbers and function was dependent on Th cells that were capable of IL-2 production because therapy failed when Th cells were derived from IL-2(-/-) mice. These findings reveal that Th cells can help break tolerance to a persisting self-Ag and treat established tumors through an IL-2-dependent mechanism, but requires simultaneous absence of naturally occurring T(reg) cells to be effective.     

CD25+CD4+ regulatory T cell migration requires L-selectin expression: L-selectin transcriptional regulation balances constitutive receptor turnover

The molecular mechanisms controlling regulatory CD25(+)Foxp3(+)CD4(+) T cell (T(reg)) migration are central to in vivo immune responses. T(reg) cell subsets differentially express L-selectin, an adhesion molecule mediating lymphocyte migration to peripheral LNs (PLNs) and leukocyte rolling during inflammation. In this study, L-selectin was essential for T(reg) cell migration and normal tissue distribution. Specifically, there was a 90% reduction in PLN T(reg) cells in L-selectin(-/-) mice with a compensatory increase in spleen T(reg) cell numbers. Unexpectedly, however, 40% of the CD4(+) T cells remaining within PLNs of L-selectin(-/-) mice were T(reg) cells. The migratory properties of T(reg) cells were nonetheless markedly different from those of naive CD4(+) T cells, with 3- to 9-fold lower migration of T(reg) cells into PLNs and approximately 2-fold lower migration into the spleen. T(reg) cells also turned over cell surface L-selectin at a faster rate than CD25(-)CD4(+) T cells, but maintained physiologically appropriate L-selectin densities for optimal migration. Specifically, T(reg) cells expressed 30-40% more cell surface L-selectin when its endoproteolytic cleavage was blocked genetically, which resulted in a 2-fold increase in T(reg) cell migration into PLNs. However, increased L-selectin cleavage by T(reg) cells in wild-type mice was accompanied by 2-fold higher L-selectin mRNA levels, which resulted in equivalent cell surface L-selectin densities on T(reg) and naive T cells. Thus, T(reg) cells and CD25(-)CD4(+) T cells share similar requirements for L-selectin expression during migration, although additional molecular mechanisms constrain T(reg) cell migration beyond what is required for naive CD4(+) T cell migration.     

Regulatory T cells suppress in vitro proliferation of virus-specific CD8+ T cells during persistent hepatitis C virus infection

The basis of chronic infection following exposure to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is unexplained. One factor may be the low frequency and immature phenotype of virus-specific CD8(+) T cells. The role of CD4(+)CD25(+) T regulatory (T(reg)) cells in priming and expanding virus-specific CD8(+) T cells was investigated. Twenty HLA-A2-positive patients with persistent HCV infection and 46 healthy controls were studied. Virus-specific CD8(+) T-cell proliferation and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) frequency were analyzed with/without depletion of T(reg) cells, using peptides derived from HCV, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV). CD4(+)CD25(+) T(reg) cells inhibited anti-CD3/CD28 CD8(+) T-cell proliferation and perforin expression. Depletion of CD4(+)CD25(+) T(reg) cells from chronic HCV patients in vitro increased HCV and EBV peptide-driven expansion (P = 0.0005 and P = 0.002, respectively) and also the number of HCV- and EBV-specific IFN-gamma-expressing CD8(+) T cells. Although stimulated CD8(+) T cells expressed receptors for transforming growth factor beta and interleukin-10, the presence of antibody to transforming growth factor beta and interleukin-10 had no effect on the suppressive effect of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells on CD8(+) T-cell proliferation. In conclusion, marked CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T-cell activity is present in patients with chronic HCV infection, which may contribute to weak HCV-specific CD8(+) T-cell responses and viral persistence.     

In contrast to effector T cells, CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells are highly susceptible to CD95 ligand- but not to TCR-mediated cell death

CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells (T(reg)) suppress T cell function and protect rodents from autoimmune disease. Regulation of T(reg) during an immune response is of major importance. Enhanced survival of T(reg) is beneficial in autoimmune disease, whereas increased depletion by apoptosis is advantageous in cancer. We show here that freshly isolated FACS-sorted T(reg) are highly sensitive toward CD95-mediated apoptosis, whereas other T cell populations are resistant to CD95-induced apoptosis shortly after isolation. In contrast, TCR restimulation of T(reg) in vitro revealed a reduced sensitivity toward activation-induced cell death compared with CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells. Thus, the apoptosis phenotype of T(reg) is unique in comparison to other T cells, and this might be further explored for novel therapeutic modulations of T(reg).     

Lymphopenia and interleukin-2 therapy alter homeostasis of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells

CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T (T(reg)) cells have a crucial role in maintaining immune tolerance. Mice and humans born lacking T(reg) cells develop severe autoimmune disease, and depletion of T(reg) cells in lymphopenic mice induces autoimmunity. Interleukin (IL)-2 signaling is required for thymic development, peripheral expansion and suppressive activity of T(reg) cells. Animals lacking IL-2 die of autoimmunity, which is prevented by administration of IL-2-responsive T(reg) cells. In light of the emerging evidence that one of the primary physiologic roles of IL-2 is to generate and maintain T(reg) cells, the question arises as to the effects of IL-2 therapy on them. We monitored T(reg) cells during immune reconstitution in individuals with cancer who did or did not receive IL-2 therapy. CD4(+)CD25(hi) cells underwent homeostatic peripheral expansion during immune reconstitution, and in lymphopenic individuals receiving IL-2, the T(reg) cell compartment was markedly increased. Mouse studies showed that IL-2 therapy induced expansion of existent T(reg) cells in normal hosts, and IL-2-induced T(reg) cell expansion was further augmented by lymphopenia. On a per-cell basis, T(reg) cells generated by IL-2 therapy expressed similar levels of FOXP3 and had similar potency for suppression compared to T(reg) cells present in normal hosts. These studies suggest that IL-2 and lymphopenia are primary modulators of CD4(+)CD25(+) T(reg) cell homeostasis.     

CD4+/CD25+ regulatory cells inhibit activation of tumor-primed CD4+ T cells with IFN-gamma-dependent antiangiogenic activity, as well as long-lasting tumor immunity elicited by peptide vaccination

CD25(+) regulatory T (T reg) cells suppress the activation/proliferation of other CD4(+) or CD8(+) T cells in vitro. Also, down-regulation of CD25(+) T reg cells enhance antitumor immune responses. In this study, we show that depletion of CD25(+) T reg cells allows the host to induce both CD4(+) and CD8(+) antitumoral responses following tumor challenge. Simultaneous depletion of CD25(+) and CD8(+) cells, as well as adoptive transfer experiments, revealed that tumor-specific CD4(+) T cells, which emerged in the absence of CD25(+) T reg cells, were able to reject CT26 colon cancer cells, a MHC class II-negative tumor. The antitumoral effect mediated by CD4(+) T cells was dependent on IFN-gamma production, which exerted a potent antiangiogenic activity. The capacity of the host to mount this antitumor response is lost once the number of CD25(+) T reg cells is restored over time. However, CD25(+) T reg cell depletion before immunization with AH1 (a cytotoxic T cell determinant from CT26 tumor cells) permits the induction of a long-lasting antitumoral immune response, not observed if immunization is conducted in the presence of regulatory cells. A study of the effect of different levels of depletion of CD25(+) T reg cells before immunization with the peptide AH1 alone, or in combination with a Th determinant, unraveled that Th cells play an important role in overcoming the suppressive effect of CD25(+) T reg on the induction of long-lasting cellular immune responses.     

CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells selectively diminish systemic autoreactivity in arthritic K/BxN mice

Although the arthritis symptoms observed in the K/BxN model have been shown to be dependent on the functions of T and B cells specific to the self antigen glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, less is known about the in vivo roles of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T (T(reg)) cells in the pathology of K/BxN mice. We determined the quantitative and functional characteristics of the T(reg) cells in K/BxN mice. These mice contained a higher percentage of Foxp3(+) T(reg) cells among the CD4(+) T cells than their BxN littermates. These T(reg) cells were anergic and efficiently suppressed the proliferation of na?ve CD4(+) T cells and cytokine production by effector CD4(+) T cells in vitro. Antibody-mediated depletion of CD25(+) cells caused K/BxN mice to develop multi-organ inflammation and autoantibody production, while the symptoms of arthritis were not affected. These results demonstrate that despite the inability of the T(reg) cells to suppress arthritis development, they play a critical role protecting the arthritic mice from systemic expansion of autoimmunity.     

Antigen-specific T cell repertoire modification of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells

T cell immune responses are regulated by the interplay between effector and suppressor T cells. Immunization with Ag leads to the selective expansion and survival of effector CD4(+) T cells with high affinity TCR against the Ag and MHC. However, it is not known if CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (T(reg)) recognize the same Ag as effector T cells or whether Ag-specific TCR repertoire modification occurs in T(reg). In this study, we demonstrate that after a primary Ag challenge, T(reg) proliferate and TCR repertoire modification is observed although both of these responses were lower than those in conventional T cells. The repertoire modification of Ag-specific T(reg) after primary Ag challenge augmented the total suppressive function of T(reg) against TCR repertoire modification but not against the proliferation of memory CD4(+) T cells. These results reveal that T cell repertoire modification against a non-self Ag occurs in T(reg), which would be crucial for limiting excess primary and memory CD4(+) T cell responses. In addition, these studies provide evidence that manipulation of Ag-specific T(reg) is an ideal strategy for the clinical use of T(reg).     

Resistance to CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells and TGF-beta in Cbl-b-/- mice

Cbl-b(-/-) mice have signaling defects that result in CD28-independent T cell activation, increased IL-2 production, hyper-reactive T cells, and increased autoimmunity. Although the increased autoimmunity in these mice is believed to result from the hyper-reactive T cells, the mechanisms leading from T cell hyper-reactivity to autoimmunity remain unclear. Specifically, the function and interaction of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (T(reg)) and CD4(+)CD25(-) effector T cells (T(eff)) in Cbl-b(-/-) mice have not been examined. We now report that Cbl-b(-/-) CD4(+)CD25(+) T(reg) exhibit normal regulatory function in vitro. In contrast, the in vitro response of Cbl-b(-/-) CD4(+)CD25(-) T(eff) is abnormal, in that it is not inhibited by either Cbl-b(-/-) or wild-type T(reg). This resistance of Cbl-b(-/-) T(eff) to in vitro regulation is seen at the levels of both DNA synthesis and cell division. In addition to this resistance to CD4(+)CD25(+) T(reg), Cbl-b(-/-) T(eff) demonstrate in vitro resistance to inhibition by TGF-beta. This second form of resistance in Cbl-b(-/-) T(eff) is seen despite the expression of normal levels of type II TGF-beta receptors and normal levels of phosphorylated Smad3 after TGF-beta stimulation. Coupled with recent reports of resistance to T(reg) in T(eff) exposed to LPS-treated dendritic cells, our present findings suggest that resistance to regulation may be a relevant mechanism in both normal immune function and autoimmunity.     

CD40 ligand promotes priming of fully potent antitumor CD4(+) T cells in draining lymph nodes in the presence of apoptotic tumor cells.

The presence or absence of CD4(+) T cell help can determine the direction of adaptive immune responses toward either cross-priming or cross-tolerance. It has been demonstrated that interactions of CD40-CD40 ligand can replace CD4(+) T cell help and enable dendritic cells to prime cytotoxic T cells. Here, we demonstrate that antitumor reactivity induced in regional lymph nodes (LNs) by s.c. injection of CD40 ligand (CD40L)-transduced tumor (MCA205 CD40L) showed far superior therapeutic efficacy against established brain tumors of a weakly immunogenic fibrosarcoma, MCA205, when adoptively transferred. Coinjection of apoptotic, but not necrotic parental tumor cells with CD40L-expressing tumor cells caused a strong synergistic induction of antitumor reactivity in tumor-draining LNs. Freshly isolated T cells from LNs immunized with apoptotic parental tumor cells and MCA205 CD40L were capable of mediating regression of the parental tumor in vivo. In contrast, T cells derived from LNs immunized without MCA205 CD40L required ex vivo anti-CD3/IL-2 activation to elicit therapeutic activity. On anti-CD3/IL-2 activation, cells from LNs immunized with MCA205 CD40L exhibited superior per cell antitumor reactivity. An in vitro depletion study revealed that either CD4(+) or CD8(+) T cells could mediate therapeutic efficacy but that the antitumor efficacy mediated by CD4(+) T cells was far superior. Cytosolic flow cytometric analyses indicated that priming of CD4(+) cells in LNs draining CD40L-expressing tumors was polarized to the Th1 type. This is the first report that fully potent antitumor CD4(+) T cell priming was promoted by s.c. injection of CD40L-transduced tumor in the presence of apoptotic tumor cells.     

Human cord blood CD4+CD25hi regulatory T cells suppress prenatally acquired T cell responses to Plasmodium falciparum antigens

In malaria endemic regions, a fetus is often exposed in utero to Plasmodium falciparum blood-stage Ags. In some newborns, this can result in the induction of immune suppression. We have previously shown these modulated immune responses to persist postnatally, with a subsequent increase in a child's susceptibility to infection. To test the hypothesis that this immune suppression is partially mediated by malaria-specific regulatory T cells (T(regs)) in utero, cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC) were obtained from 44 Kenyan newborns of women with and without malaria at delivery. CD4(+)CD25(lo) T cells and CD4(+)CD25(hi) FOXP3(+) cells (T(regs)) were enriched from CBMC. T(reg) frequency and HLA-DR expression on T(regs) were significantly greater for Kenyan as compared with North American CBMC (p < 0.01). CBMC/CD4(+) T cells cultured with P. falciparum blood-stage Ags induced production of IFN-γ, IL-13, IL-10, and/or IL-5 in 50% of samples. Partial depletion of CD25(hi) cells augmented the Ag-driven IFN-γ production in 69% of subjects with malaria-specific responses and revealed additional Ag-reactive lymphocytes in previously unresponsive individuals (n = 3). Addition of T(regs) to CD4(+)CD25(lo) cells suppressed spontaneous and malaria Ag-driven production of IFN-γ in a dose-dependent fashion, until production was completely inhibited in most subjects. In contrast, T(regs) only partially suppressed malaria-induced Th2 cytokines. IL-10 or TGF-β did not mediate this suppression. Thus, prenatal exposure to malaria blood-stage Ags induces T(regs) that primarily suppress Th1-type recall responses to P. falciparum blood-stage Ags. Persistence of these T(regs) postnatally could modify a child's susceptibility to malaria infection and disease.     

Single-cell analysis of the human T regulatory population uncovers functional heterogeneity and instability within FOXP3+ cells

Natural FOXP3(+)CD4(+)CD25(High) regulatory T cells are critical in immunological self-tolerance. Their characterization in humans is hindered by the failure to discriminate these cells from activated effector T cells in inflammation. To explore the relationship between FOXP3 expression and regulatory function at the clonal level, we used a single-cell cloning strategy of CD25-expressing CD4(+) T cell subsets from healthy human donors. Our approach unveils a functional heterogeneity nested within CD4(+)CD25(High)FOXP3(+) T cells, and typically not revealed by conventional bulk assays. Whereas most cells display the canonical regulatory T (T(reg)) cell characteristics, a significant proportion of FOXP3(+) T cells is compromised in its suppressive function, despite the maintenance of other phenotypic and functional regulatory T hallmark features. In addition, these nonsuppressive FOXP3(+) T cells preferentially emerge from the CD45RO(+) memory pool, and arise as a consequence of a rapid downregulation of FOXP3 expression upon T cell reactivation. Surprisingly, these dysfunctional T(reg) cells with unstable FOXP3 expression do not manifest overt plasticity in terms of inflammatory cytokine secretion. These results open a path to an extensive study of the functional heterogeneity of CD4(+)CD25(High)FOXP3(+) T(reg) cells and warrant caution in the sole use of FOXP3 as a clinical marker for monitoring of immune regulation in humans.     

Induction of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(-) regulatory T cells by Thy-1 stimulation of CD4(+) T cells

Thy-1 (CD90) on mouse T cells has been reported to have both T-cell activating and regulatory roles. In this study, we show that monoclonal antibody (mAb)-mediated crosslinking of Thy-1 on CD4(+) mouse T-cells-induced regulatory T (T(reg)) cells that expressed CD25, CD39 and glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor family-related gene, but not CD73, CD122 or Foxp3. The proliferation of CD4(+) T(responder) cells in response to anti-CD3/anti-CD28mAb-coated T-cell expander beads or syngeneic dendritic cells and soluble anti-CD3mAb was inhibited by Thy-1-induced T(reg) cells, in spite of elevated IL-2 levels in the co-cultures. Interestingly, stimulation with T-cell expander beads caused Thy-1-induced T(reg) cells to synthesize large amounts of interleukin-2 (IL-2). IL-10 was also elevated in co-cultures of activated T(responder) cells and Thy-1-induced T(reg) cells. However, mAb-mediated neutralization of IL-10 did not restore T(responder)-cell proliferation to control levels, which excluded IL-10 as a potential mediator of Thy-1-induced T(reg)-cell suppressor function. In addition, Thy-1-induced T(reg) cells did not inhibit IL-2-dependent proliferation of CTLL-2 cells, suggesting that IL-2 receptor signaling remained intact in the presence of Thy-1-induced T(reg) cells. We suggest that T(reg) cells induced by Thy-1 ligation in vivo may contribute to the maintenance of T-cell homeostasis.     

Intratumoral convergence of the TCR repertoires of effector and Foxp3+ CD4+ T cells

The presence of Foxp3(+) regulatory CD4(+) T cells in tumor lesions is considered one of the major causes of ineffective immune response in cancer. It is not clear whether intratumoral T(reg) cells represent T(reg) cells pre-existing in healthy mice, or arise from tumor-specific effector CD4(+) T cells and thus representing adaptive T(reg) cells. The generation of T(reg) population in tumors could be further complicated by recent evidence showing that both in humans and mice the peripheral population of T(reg) cells is heterogenous and consists of subsets which may differentially respond to tumor-derived antigens. We have studied T(reg) cells in cancer in experimental mice that express naturally selected, polyclonal repertoire of CD4(+) T cells and which preserve the heterogeneity of the T(reg) population. The majority of T(reg) cells present in healthy mice maintained a stable suppressor phenotype, expressed high level of Foxp3 and an exclusive set of TCRs not used by naive CD4(+) T cells. A small T(reg) subset, utilized TCRs shared with effector T cells and expressed a lower level of Foxp3. We show that response to tumor-derived antigens induced efficient clonal recruitment and expansion of antigen-specific effector and T(reg) cells. However, the population of T(reg) cells in tumors was dominated by cells expressing TCRs shared with effector CD4(+) T cells. In contrast, T(reg) cells expressing an exclusive set of TCRs, that dominate in healthy mice, accounted for only a small fraction of all T(reg) cells in tumor lesions. Our results suggest that the T(reg) repertoire in tumors is generated by conversion of effector CD4(+) T cells or expansion of a minor subset of T(reg) cells. In conclusion, successful cancer immunotherapy may depend on the ability to block upregulation of Foxp3 in effector CD4(+) T cells and/or selectively inhibiting the expansion of a minor T(reg) subset.     

CD4+ CD25+ T cells regulate vaccine-generated primary and memory CD8+ T-cell responses against herpes simplex virus type 1

It has become evident that naturally occurring CD25(+) regulatory T cells (T(reg) cells) not only influence self-antigen specific immune response but also dampen foreign antigen specific immunity. This report extends our previous findings by demonstrating that immunity to certain herpes simplex virus (HSV) vaccines is significantly elevated and more effective if T(reg) cell response is curtailed during either primary or recall immunization. The data presented here show that removal of CD25(+) T(reg) cells prior to SSIEFARL-CpG or gB-DNA immunization significantly enhanced the resultant CD8(+) T-cell response to the immunodominant SSIEFARL peptide. The enhanced CD8(+) T-cell reactivity in T(reg) cell-depleted animals was between two- and threefold and evident in both acute and memory stages. Interestingly, removal of CD25(+) T(reg) cells during the memory recall response to plasmid immunization resulted in a twofold increase in CD8(+) T-cell memory pool. Moreover, in the challenge experiments, memory CD8(+) T cells generated with plasmid DNA in the absence of T(reg) cells cleared the virus more effectively compared with control groups. We conclude that CD25(+) T(reg) cells quantitatively as well as qualitatively affect the memory CD8(+) T-cell response generated by gB-DNA vaccination against HSV. However, it remains to be seen if all types of vaccines against HSV are similarly affected by CD25(+) T(reg) cells and if it is possible to devise means of limiting T(reg) cell activity to enhance vaccine efficacy.