Johnston, C. J.C. et al. (2017) A structurally distinct TGF-β mimic from an intestinal helminth parasite potently induces regulatory T cells. Nature Communications, 8, 1741. (doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-01886-6) (PMID:29170498) (PMCID:PMC5701006)
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Abstract
Helminth parasites defy immune exclusion through sophisticated evasion mechanisms, including activation of host immunosuppressive regulatory T (Treg) cells. The mouse parasite Heligmosomoides polygyrus can expand the host Treg population by secreting products that activate TGF-β signalling, but the identity of the active molecule is unknown. Here we identify an H. polygyrus TGF-β mimic (Hp-TGM) that replicates the biological and functional properties of TGF-β, including binding to mammalian TGF-β receptors and inducing mouse and human Foxp3+ Treg cells. Hp-TGM has no homology with mammalian TGF-β or other members of the TGF-β family, but is a member of the complement control protein superfamily. Thus, our data indicate that through convergent evolution, the parasite has acquired a protein with cytokine-like function that is able to exploit an endogenous pathway of immunoregulation in the host.
Item Type: | Articles |
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Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | White, Dr Madeleine and Kemter, Miss Andrea and Smyth, Dr Danielle and Maizels, Professor Rick |
Authors: | Johnston, C. J.C., Smyth, D. J., Kodali, R. B., White, M. P.J., Harcus, Y., Filbey, K. J., Hewitson, J. P., Hinck, C. S., Ivens, A., Kemter, A. M., Kildemoes, A. O., Le Bihan, T., Soares, D. C., Anderton, S. M., Brenn, T., Wigmore, S. J., Woodcock, H. V., Chambers, R. C., Hinck, A. P., McSorley, H. J., and Maizels, R. M. |
College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity |
Journal Name: | Nature Communications |
Publisher: | Nature Research |
ISSN: | 2041-1723 |
ISSN (Online): | 2041-1723 |
Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2017 The Authors |
First Published: | First published in Nature Communications 8: 1741 |
Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
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