CD4(+)CD25(-)Nrp1(+) T cells synergize with rapamycin to prevent murine cardiac allorejection in immunocompetent recipients

PLoS One. 2013;8(4):e61151. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061151. Epub 2013 Apr 5.

Abstract

Besides CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs), other immunosuppressive T cells also participated in the regulation of immune tolerance. Reportedly, neuropilin-1 (Nrp1) might be one of the molecules by which regulatory cells exert their suppressive effects. Indeed, CD4(+)CD25(-)Nrp1(+) T cells exhibit potent suppressive function in autoimmune inflammatory responses. Here we investigated the specific role of CD4(+)CD25(-)Nrp1(+) T cells in the setting of the transplant immune response. Through MLR assays, we found that CD4(+)CD25(-)Nrp1(+) T cells suppressed the proliferation of naive CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells activated by allogeneic antigen-stimulation. Adoptive transfer of CD4(+)CD25(-)Nrp1(+) T cells synergized with rapamycin to induce long-term graft survival in fully MHC-mismatched murine heart transplantation, which was associated with decreased IFN-γ, IL-17 and increased IL-10, TGF-β, Foxp3 and Nrp1 expression in the grafts. Importantly, our data indicated that CD4(+)CD25(-)Nrp1(+) T cell transfer augments the accumulation of Tregs in the recipient, and creates conditions that favored induction of hyporesponsiveness of the T effector cells. In conclusion, this translational study indicates the possible therapeutic potential of CD4(+)CD25(-)Nrp1(+) T cells in preventing allorejection. CD4(+)Nrp1(+) T cells might therefore be used in bulk as a population of immunosuppressive cells with more beneficial properties concerning ex vivo isolation as compared to Foxp3(+) Tregs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer
  • Animals
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Separation
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Graft Rejection / immunology
  • Graft Rejection / metabolism
  • Graft Rejection / prevention & control*
  • Heart Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Immunocompetence*
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / deficiency*
  • Mice
  • Neuropilin-1 / deficiency*
  • Sirolimus / pharmacology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxp3 protein, mouse
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit
  • Neuropilin-1
  • Sirolimus

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the National Key Technology R&D Program of Chinese PLA (06G115) and the National Key Technology R&D Program of China (2008BAI60B04), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81200547), the RISET consortium on Transplantation Tolerance (www.nds.ox.ac.uk/riset), an ERA-EDTA fellowship and a grant from the Dutch Kidney Foundation (awarded to J.K.). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.