Human anergic/suppressive CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells: a highly differentiated and apoptosis-prone population

LS Taams, J Smith, MH Rustin, Michael Salmon, LW Poulter, AN Akbar

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

    390 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Anergic/suppressive CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells exist in animal models but their presence has not yet been demonstrated in humans. We have identified and characterized a human CD4(+)CD25(+) T cell subset, which constitutes 7-10 % of CD4(+) T cells in peripheral blood and tonsil. These cells are a CD45RO(+)CD45RB(low) highly differentiated primed T cell population that is anergic to stimulation. Depletion of this small subset from CD4(+) T cells significantly enhances proliferation by threefold in the remaining CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells, while the addition of isolated CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells to CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells significantly inhibits proliferative activity. Blocking experiments suggest that suppression is not mediated via IL-4, IL-10 or TGF-beta and is cell-contact dependent. Isolated CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells are susceptible to apoptosis that is associated with low Bcl-2 expression, but this death can be prevented by IL-2 or fibroblast-secreted IFN-beta. However, the anergic/suppressive state of these cells is maintained after cytokine rescue. These human regulatory cells are therefore a naturally occurring, highly suppressive, apoptosis-prone population which are at a late stage of differentiation. Further studies into their role in normal and pathological situations in humans are clearly essential.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1122-31
    Number of pages10
    JournalEuropean Journal of Immunology
    Volume31
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2001

    Keywords

    • suppression
    • apoptosis
    • tolerance
    • anergy
    • immune regulation

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