Cure of innate intestinal immune pathology by CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells

Maloy, K. J. , Antonelli, L. R.V., Lefevre, M. and Powrie, F. (2005) Cure of innate intestinal immune pathology by CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells. Immunology Letters, 97(2), pp. 189-192. (doi: 10.1016/j.imlet.2005.01.004) (PMID:15752557)

Abstract

CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (T(R)) cells are a naturally occurring population of T cells that suppress the development of a variety of pathological immune responses. However, as human inflammatory diseases are usually not diagnosed until after the onset of clinical symptoms, it is of great interest to determine whether CD4+CD25+ T(R) cells can reverse established pathology. To examine this question we have utilized a murine model of human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), where pathology is triggered by infection of immune deficient RAG-/- mice with the pathogenic bacterium Helicobacter hepaticus. Here we demonstrate that adoptively transferred CD4+CD25+ T(R) cells can cure established intestinal inflammation that is mediated by innate immune activation in H. hepaticus-infected RAG-/- mice. CD4+CD25+ T(R) cell-mediated amelioration of innate intestinal pathology was accompanied by a reversal in systemic innate immune activation, but did not involve any detectable anti-bacterial effects, as bacterial colonization levels were unchanged. Cure of established pathology was not achieved using subpopulations of CD4+CD25- T cells, further emphasizing the enhanced regulatory activity of CD4+CD25+ T(R) cells.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Maloy, Professor Kevin
• Authors: Maloy, K. J., Antonelli, L. R.V., Lefevre, M., and Powrie, F.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
• Journal Name: Immunology Letters
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0165-2478
• ISSN (Online): 1879-0542
• Published Online: 02 February 2005