Abstract
Interleukin 2 signaling is believed to be critically involved in several aspects of CD25(+) CD4(+) regulatory T cell biology, such as intrathymic development, peripheral survival and suppressive function. Here we have analyzed the effects of interleukin 2 or CD25 deficiency on agonist-driven thymic development and the peripheral homeostasis of an antigen-specific population of regulatory T cells positive for forkhead family transcription factor Foxp3 and have correlated our observations with polyclonal suppressor populations. We found that the differentiation, acquisition of functional capacity and formation of a sizeable pool of suppressor T cells in the thymus was independent of interleukin 2 signaling, but that interleukin 2 was essential for the survival of mature Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Cell Differentiation
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DNA-Binding Proteins / analysis
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DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
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Forkhead Transcription Factors
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Interleukin-2 / deficiency*
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Interleukin-2 / genetics
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Mice
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Mice, Transgenic
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Receptors, Interleukin-2 / analysis
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Receptors, Interleukin-2 / deficiency*
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Receptors, Interleukin-2 / genetics
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Signal Transduction / genetics
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Signal Transduction / immunology
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T-Lymphocytes / cytology
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T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
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T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / cytology
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T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
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T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism
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Thymus Gland / cytology
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Thymus Gland / growth & development
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Thymus Gland / immunology
Substances
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Forkhead Transcription Factors
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Foxp3 protein, mouse
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Interleukin-2
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Receptors, Interleukin-2