CD4+CD25+ T(R) cells suppress innate immune pathology through cytokine-dependent mechanisms

J Exp Med. 2003 Jan 6;197(1):111-9. doi: 10.1084/jem.20021345.

Abstract

CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T (T(R)) cells can inhibit a variety of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, but the precise mechanisms by which they suppress immune responses in vivo remain unresolved. Here, we have used Helicobacter hepaticus infection of T cell-reconstituted recombination-activating gene (RAG)(-/-) mice as a model to study the ability of CD4(+)CD25(+) T(R) cells to inhibit bacterially triggered intestinal inflammation. H. hepaticus infection elicited both T cell-mediated and T cell-independent intestinal inflammation, both of which were inhibited by adoptively transferred CD4(+)CD25(+) T(R) cells. T cell-independent pathology was accompanied by activation of the innate immune system that was also inhibited by CD4(+)CD25(+) T(R) cells. Suppression of innate immune pathology was dependent on T cell-derived interleukin 10 and also on the production of transforming growth factor beta. Thus, CD4(+)CD25(+) T(R) cells do not only suppress adaptive T cell responses, but are also able to control pathology mediated by innate immune mechanisms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer
  • Animals
  • CD4 Antigens / metabolism*
  • Cytokines / immunology*
  • Helicobacter Infections / immunology*
  • Helicobacter Infections / microbiology
  • Immunity, Innate*
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Inflammation / microbiology
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Interleukin-10 / immunology
  • Intestines / immunology
  • Intestines / microbiology
  • Intestines / pathology
  • Mice
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2 / metabolism*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / immunology

Substances

  • CD4 Antigens
  • Cytokines
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Interleukin-10