Generation of human regulatory gammadelta T cells by TCRgammadelta stimulation in the presence of TGF-beta and their involvement in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus

J Immunol. 2011 Jun 15;186(12):6693-700. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1002776. Epub 2011 May 11.

Abstract

As a component of the innate immune cell population, γδ T cells are involved in tumor immunosurveillance and host defense against viral invasion. In this study, we demonstrated a novel function of human γδ T cells as regulatory cells by detecting their suppressive effect on the proliferation of autologous naive CD4(+) T cells. These regulatory γδ T cells (γδ Tregs) could be generated in vitro by stimulating with anti-TCRγδ in the presence of TGF-β and IL-2. Similar to CD4(+)Foxp3(+) Tregs, γδ Tregs also expressed Foxp3. Additionally, they primarily belonged to the Vδ1 subset with a CD27(+)CD25(high) phenotype. Furthermore, these γδ Tregs showed an immunoregulatory activity mainly through cell-to-cell contact. Importantly, this γδ regulatory population decreased in the peripheral blood of systemic lupus erythematosus patients, suggesting a potential mechanism in understanding the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Blood Cells
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / etiology
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / immunology*

Substances

  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta