TLR2 agonists enhance CD8+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells and suppress Th2 immune responses during allergen immunotherapy

J Immunol. 2010 Jun 15;184(12):7229-37. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1000083. Epub 2010 May 7.

Abstract

Pam3CSK4, a synthetic TLR2 ligand, has been shown to expand CD4+ regulatory T cells (Treg cells). Less is known about the function of CD8+ Treg cells than about the function of CD4+ Treg cells generated during allergen-specific immunotherapy (IT). This study investigated whether Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus-specific IT could expand the CD8+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg population and whether Pam3CSK4 could enhance the Treg population. PBMCs were isolated from healthy control subjects and from mite-sensitive asthmatic patients during IT at three specific times: before IT and 6 mo and 1 y after the maximum-tolerated dose. This study was performed without a placebo-controlled group. D. pteronyssinus-specific IT induced a significant increase in CD8+Foxp3+ Treg cells expressing intracellular IL-10 and granzyme B. Costimulation of PBMCs with Pam3CSK4 and D. pteronyssinus 2 expanded the CD8+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg population and inhibited D. pteronyssinus 2-induced IL-4 production. Pam3CSK4-treated CD8+CD25+ Treg cells directly suppressed CD4+ T cell proliferation by cell-contact inhibition. TUNEL revealed that CD8+CD25+ Treg cells, but not CD4+CD25+ Treg cells, directly induced CD4+CD45ROhi+ apoptosis. Our results provide direct evidence that Pam3CSK4 induces an immunomodulatory effect by inducing CD8+ Treg cells; therefore, it may be a good adjuvant for the treatment of mite allergies.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / therapeutic use*
  • Adolescent
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Dermatophagoides / immunology
  • Blotting, Western
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cell Separation
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Desensitization, Immunologic / methods*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / biosynthesis
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / immunology
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity / prevention & control
  • Lipopeptides / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Pyroglyphidae
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / drug effects*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
  • Th2 Cells / drug effects
  • Th2 Cells / immunology
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / drug effects*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / immunology
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / metabolism

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Antigens, Dermatophagoides
  • FOXP3 protein, human
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Lipopeptides
  • Pam(3)CSK(4) peptide
  • TLR2 protein, human
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2