Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
9267820 | Journal of Autoimmunity | 2005 | 9 Pages |
Abstract
CD25+CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) contribute to the maintenance of peripheral tolerance against self and non-self. The modulatory effects of cytokines, such as interleukin 4 (IL-4) on the function of Tregs have not been explored in detail. We here report that IL-4 prevents spontaneous apoptosis and the decline of foxp3 mRNA which were found to occur during culture of isolated Tregs. Tregs exposed to IL-4 were more potent in suppressing the proliferation of naïve CD4+ T cells and they better inhibited IFN-γ production by CD4+ T cells as compared to Tregs cultured in medium. IL-4 also enhanced membrane IL-2Rα (CD25) expression on Tregs above the levels observed on freshly isolated cells. IL-4-mediated effects on Treg function persisted in Tregs from Stat6â/â mice, pointing to a Stat6-independent intracellular transduction pathway. In conclusion, our data suggest that the anti-inflammatory function of IL-4 could partly be mediated by effects on Tregs function.
Related Topics
Life Sciences
Immunology and Microbiology
Immunology
Authors
Philippe Maerten, Chong Shen, Dominique M.A. Bullens, Gert Van Assche, Stefaan Van Gool, Karel Geboes, Paul Rutgeerts, Jan L. Ceuppens,