Antigen-specific expansion of human regulatory T cells as a major tolerance mechanism against mucosal fungi

Mucosal Immunol. 2014 Jul;7(4):916-28. doi: 10.1038/mi.2013.107. Epub 2013 Dec 4.

Abstract

Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Treg) have a central role for keeping the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory immune responses against chronically encountered antigens at mucosal sites. However, their antigen specificity especially in humans is largely unknown. Here we used a sensitive enrichment technology for antigen-reactive T cells to directly compare the conventional vs. regulatory CD4(+) T-cell response directed against two ubiquitous mucosal fungi, Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans. In healthy humans, fungus-specific CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(-)Foxp3(+) Treg are strongly expanded in peripheral blood and possess phenotypic, epigenetic and functional features of thymus-derived Treg. Intriguingly, for A. fumigatus, the strong Treg response contrasts with minimal conventional T-cell memory, indicating selective Treg expansion as an effective mechanism to prevent inappropriate immune activation in healthy individuals. By contrast, in subjects with A. fumigatus allergies, specific Th2 cells were strongly expanded despite the presence of specific Treg. Taken together, we demonstrate a largely expanded Treg population specific for mucosal fungi as part of the physiological human T-cell repertoire and identify a unique capacity of A. fumigatus to selectively generate Treg responses as a potentially important mechanism for the prevention of allergic reactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Fungal / immunology*
  • Aspergillus / immunology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cystic Fibrosis / complications
  • Cystic Fibrosis / immunology
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology*
  • Fungi / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity / etiology
  • Immune Tolerance*
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Mucous Membrane / immunology*
  • Mucous Membrane / microbiology*
  • Phenotype
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9 / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens, Fungal
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9