FoxA1 directs the lineage and immunosuppressive properties of a novel regulatory T cell population in EAE and MS

Nat Med. 2014 Mar;20(3):272-82. doi: 10.1038/nm.3485. Epub 2014 Feb 16.

Abstract

The defective generation or function of regulatory T (Treg) cells in autoimmune disease contributes to chronic inflammation and tissue injury. We report the identification of FoxA1 as a transcription factor in T cells that, after ectopic expression, confers suppressive properties in a newly identified Treg cell population, herein called FoxA1(+) Treg cells. FoxA1 bound to the Pdl1 promoter, inducing programmed cell death ligand 1 (Pd-l1) expression, which was essential for the FoxA1(+) Treg cells to kill activated T cells. FoxA1(+) Treg cells develop primarily in the central nervous system in response to autoimmune inflammation, have a distinct transcriptional profile and are CD4(+)FoxA1(+)CD47(+)CD69(+)PD-L1(hi)FoxP3(-). Adoptive transfer of stable FoxA1(+) Treg cells inhibited experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in a FoxA1-and Pd-l1-dependent manner. The development of FoxA1(+) Treg cells is induced by interferon-β (IFN-β) and requires T cell-intrinsic IFN-α/β receptor (Ifnar) signaling, as the frequency of FoxA1(+) Treg cells was reduced in Ifnb(-/-) and Ifnar(-/-) mice. In individuals with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, clinical response to treatment with IFN-β was associated with an increased frequency of suppressive FoxA1(+) Treg cells in the blood. These findings suggest that FoxA1 is a lineage-specification factor that is induced by IFN-β and supports the differentiation and suppressive function of FoxA1(+) Treg cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • B7-H1 Antigen / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Lineage
  • Central Nervous System / metabolism
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-alpha / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppression Therapy
  • Interferon-beta / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / cytology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • CD274 protein, human
  • Cd274 protein, mouse
  • FOXA1 protein, human
  • Foxa1 protein, mouse
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-alpha
  • Transcription Factors
  • Interferon-beta

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE54490