Conversion of peripheral CD4+CD25− T cells to CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells by IFN-γ in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome

CD4+CD25− T cells from 25 Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) patients were stimulated by IFN-γ to generate the induced CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (iTregs). Then, their phenotypical and functional characterizations were analyzed. Results show that iTregs can be generated from CD4+CD25− T cells in GBS patients by IFN-γ in the presence of activating anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies in vitro. When CD4+CD25− T cells are stimulated by 40 ng/ml IFN-γ for 3 days, the ratio of conversion is the highest under this condition and iTregs are similar to naturally occurring CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells of healthy donors phenotypically and functionally.