Open AccessCutting Edge: CD4-Independent Development of Functional FoxP3+ Regulatory T Cells
Author(s) -
Céline A. Blache,
Sahil Adriouch,
Sébastien Calbo,
Laurent Drouot,
Sophie Dulauroy,
Christophe Arnoult,
Stéphanie Le Corre,
Adrien Six,
Michel Séman,
Olivier Boyer
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.737
H-Index - 372
eISSN - 1550-6606
pISSN - 0022-1767
DOI - 10.4049/jimmunol.0901678
Subject(s) - foxp3 , cd8 , il 2 receptor , microbiology and biotechnology , mhc class ii , biology , mhc class i , immunology , regulatory t cell , cd3 , t cell receptor , phenotype , major histocompatibility complex , t cell , antigen , immune system , gene , genetics
The CD4 coreceptor is mandatory for the differentiation and function of conventional MHC class II-restricted T cells, but little is known about its contribution in regulatory T cells (Tregs). We thus investigated the Treg compartment in mice lacking CD4. CD3+CD8-FoxP3+ cells were readily detected in the periphery of CD4(-/-) mice, where their percentages were even increased as compared with wild-type animals. These cells had a classical CD25+CD152+GITR+ Treg phenotype, were enriched in memory-type Tregs, and displayed a diversified TCR repertoire. Functionally, CD4(-/-) Tregs were equally as suppressive as CD4(+/+) Tregs in vitro as well as in vivo. Hence, the CD4 coreceptor is dispensable for the generation and function of FoxP3+ Tregs. Furthermore, CD3+CD8-FoxP3+ Tregs were also found to develop in the absence of both CD4 and MHC-II molecules, demonstrating that the generation of Tregs can occur independently of MHC-II recognition.
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