Rapamycin, not cyclosporine, permits thymic generation and peripheral preservation of CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ T cells

Bone Marrow Transplant. 2007 May;39(9):537-45. doi: 10.1038/sj.bmt.1705628. Epub 2007 Mar 12.

Abstract

Graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) is the most common cause of poor outcome after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). Of late, exploitation of FOXP3(+) regulatory T-cell (T(REG)) function is emerging as a promising strategy in suppression of GVHD, while preserving graft-versus-leukemia (GVL). Cyclosporine and rapamycin reduce the expansion of effector T cells by blocking interleukin (IL)-2, but signaling by IL-2 is pivotal for T(REG) homeostasis. The resolution of GVHD is critically dependent on thymus-dependent reconstitution of the immunoregulatory system. Thus, there has been concern about the impact of blocking IL-2 signaling by immunosuppressive agents on T(REG) homeostasis. Here we demonstrate in a mouse model that in contrast to rapamycin, cyclosporine compromises not only the thymic generation of CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) T cells but also their homeostatic behavior in peripheral immune compartments. Treatment with cyclosporine resulted in a sharp reduction of peripheral CD25(+)FoxP3(+) T cells in all immune compartments studied. Prolonged rapamycin treatment allowed for thymic generation of CD4(+)FoxP3(+) T cells, whereas treatment with cyclosporine led to a reduced generation of these cells. In conclusion, cyclosporine and rapamycin differentially affect homeostasis of CD4(+)FoxP3(+) T(REG) in vivo. As peripheral tolerance induction is a prerequisite for successful treatment outcome after allogeneic SCT, these findings are of potential clinical relevance.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cyclosporine / pharmacology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors*
  • Graft vs Host Disease / drug therapy*
  • Graft vs Host Disease / immunology
  • Homeostasis / drug effects
  • Homeostasis / immunology
  • Immune Tolerance / drug effects
  • Immune Tolerance / immunology
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology*
  • Interleukin-2 / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C3H
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • Sirolimus / pharmacology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / pathology
  • Thymus Gland / immunology*
  • Thymus Gland / pathology

Substances

  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxp3 protein, mouse
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Interleukin-2
  • Cyclosporine
  • Sirolimus