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PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
2007-7-9
pubmed:abstractText
The suppressive function of regulatory T cells (T(reg)) is impaired in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The mechanism underlying the T(reg) functional defect is unknown. T(reg) mature in the thymus and the majority of cells circulating in the periphery rapidly adopt a memory phenotype. Because our own previous findings suggest that the thymic output of T cells is impaired in MS, we hypothesized that an altered T(reg) generation may contribute to the suppressive deficiency. We therefore determined the role of T(reg) that enter the circulation as recent thymic emigrants (RTE) and, unlike their CD45RO(+) memory counterparts, express CD31 as typical surface marker. We show that the numbers of CD31(+)-coexpressing CD4(+)CD25(+)CD45RA(+)CD45RO(-)FOXP3(+) T(reg) (RTE-T(reg)) within peripheral blood decline with age and are significantly reduced in MS patients. The reduced de novo generation of RTE-T(reg) is compensated by higher proportions of memory T(reg), resulting in a stable cell count of the total T(reg) population. Depletion of CD31(+) cells from T(reg) diminishes the suppressive capacity of donor but not patient T(reg) and neutralizes the difference in inhibitory potencies between the two groups. Overall, there was a clear correlation between T(reg)-mediated suppression and the prevalence of RTE-T(reg), indicating that CD31-expressing naive T(reg) contribute to the functional properties of the entire T(reg) population. Furthermore, patient-derived T(reg), but not healthy T(reg), exhibit a contracted TCR Vbeta repertoire. These observations suggest that a shift in the homeostatic composition of T(reg) subsets related to a reduced thymic-dependent de novo generation of RTE-T(reg) with a compensatory expansion of memory T(reg) may contribute to the T(reg) defect associated with MS.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jul
pubmed:issn
0022-1767
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
15
pubmed:volume
179
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1322-30
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2007
pubmed:articleTitle
Prevalence of newly generated naive regulatory T cells (Treg) is critical for Treg suppressive function and determines Treg dysfunction in multiple sclerosis.
pubmed:affiliation
Division of Molecular Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't