Tuftsin-derived T-peptide prevents cellular immunosuppression and improves survival rate in septic mice

Sci Rep. 2015 Nov 18:5:16725. doi: 10.1038/srep16725.

Abstract

The primary mechanisms of sepsis induced cellular immunosuppression involve immune dysfunction of T lymphocytes and negative immunoregulation of regulatory T cells (Tregs). It has been found that tuftsin is an immune modulating peptide derived from IgG in spleen. T-peptide is one of tuftsin analogs. Herein, we examined the effect of T-peptide on cell-mediated immunity in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the survival rate in septic mice. T-peptide regulated the proliferative ability of CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells in dual responses. Meanwhile, 10 and 100 μg/ml T-peptides were able to enhance the apoptotic rate of CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells compared with 1 μg/ml T-peptide, but markedly lowered interleukin (IL)-2 levels. When CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs were treated with T-peptide for 24 hours, and co-cultured with normal CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells, the suppressive ability of CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs on CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells was significantly lowered, along with decreased expression in forkhead/winged helix transcription factor p-3 (Foxp-3) as well as cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen (CTLA)-4, and secretion of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. Moreover, T-peptide has the ability to improve outcome of septic mice in a dose- and time- dependent manner, and associated with improvement in the microenvironment of cellular immunosuppression in septic mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Surface / metabolism
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / immunology
  • CTLA-4 Antigen / genetics
  • CTLA-4 Antigen / metabolism
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Gene Expression
  • Immunity, Cellular / drug effects*
  • Immunologic Factors / pharmacology*
  • Immunomodulation / drug effects*
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Interleukin-2 / biosynthesis
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Mice
  • Phenotype
  • Sepsis / drug therapy
  • Sepsis / immunology*
  • Sepsis / mortality*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / genetics
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism
  • Tuftsin / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antigens, Surface
  • CTLA-4 Antigen
  • Cytokines
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Interleukin-2
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Tuftsin