Mild hypothermia provides Treg stability

Sci Rep. 2017 Sep 20;7(1):11915. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-10151-1.

Abstract

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play crucial role in maintenance of peripheral tolerance. Recent clinical trials confirmed safety and efficacy of Treg treatment of deleterious immune responses. However, Tregs lose their characteristic phenotype and suppressive potential during expansion ex vivo. Therefore, multiple research teams have been studding Treg biology in aim to improve their stability in vitro. In the current paper, we demonstrate that mild hypothermia of 33 °C induces robust proliferation of Tregs, preserves expression of FoxP3, CD25 and Helios, and prevents TSDR methylation during culture in vitro. Tregs expanded at 33 °C have stronger immunosuppressive potential and remarkably anti-inflammatory phenotype demonstrated by the whole transcriptome sequencing. These observations shed new light on impact of temperature on regulation of immune response. We show that just a simple change in temperature can preserve Treg stability, function and accelerate their proliferation, responding to unanswered question- how to preserve Treg stability in vitro.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Proliferation / radiation effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cold Temperature
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / analysis
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Humans
  • Hypothermia*
  • Ikaros Transcription Factor / analysis
  • Immune Tolerance
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / analysis
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / chemistry
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / physiology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / radiation effects*

Substances

  • FOXP3 protein, human
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • IKZF2 protein, human
  • IL2RA protein, human
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit
  • Ikaros Transcription Factor