Cutting edge: CD47 controls the in vivo proliferation and homeostasis of peripheral CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells that express CD103

Peripheral CD103(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) can develop both from conventional naive T cells upon cognate Ag delivery under tolerogenic conditions and from thymic-derived, expanded/differentiated natural Tregs. We here show that CD47 expression, a marker of self on hematopoietic cells, selectively regulated CD103(+)Foxp3(+) Treg homeostasis at the steady state. First, the proportion of effector/memory-like (CD44(high)CD62L(low)) CD103(+)Foxp3(+) Tregs rapidly augmented with age in CD47-deficient mice (CD47(-/-)) as compared with age-matched control littermates. Yet, the percentage of quiescent (CD44(low)CD62L(high)) CD103(-)Foxp3(+) Tregs remained stable. Second, the increased proliferation rate (BrdU incorporation) observed within the CD47(-/-)Foxp3(+) Treg subpopulation was restricted to those Tregs expressing CD103. Third, CD47(-/-) Tregs maintained a normal suppressive function in vitro and in vivo and their increased proportion in old mice led to a decline of Ag-specific T cell responses. Thus, sustained CD47 expression throughout life is critical to avoid an excessive expansion of CD103(+) Tregs that may overwhelmingly inhibit Ag-specific T cell responses.