Cutting edge: ligation of the glucocorticoid-induced TNF receptor enhances autoreactive CD4+ T cell activation and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

The glucocorticoid-induced TNFR (GITR) is expressed at high levels on resting CD4(+)CD25(+) T regulatory (T(R)) cells and regulates their suppressive phenotype. Accordingly, we show that anti-GITR mAb treatment of SJL mice with proteolipid protein 139-151-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis significantly exacerbated clinical disease severity and CNS inflammation, and induced elevated levels of Ag-specific T cell proliferation and cytokine production. Interestingly, prior depletion of T(R) cells failed to result in exacerbated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis suggesting alternative targets for the anti-GITR mAb treatment. Importantly, naive CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells up-regulated GITR expression in an activation-dependent manner and anti-GITR mAb treatment enhanced the level of CD4(+) T cell activation, proliferation, and cytokine production in the absence of T(R) cells both in vivo and in vitro. Taken together, these findings suggest a dual functional role for GITR as GITR cross-linking both inactivates T(R) cells and increases CD4(+)CD25(-) T cell effector function, thus enhancing T cell immunity.