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Cutting Edge: The Foxp3 Target miR-155 Contributes to the Development of Regulatory T Cells¹

Susan Kohlhaas^2,*, Oliver A. Garden^2,,, Cheryl Scudamore, Martin Turner^*, Klaus Okkenhaug^* and Elena Vigorito^3,*

^* Laboratory of Lymphocyte Signalling and Development, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Regulatory T Cell Laboratory, Infection and Immunity Research Group, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Camden Campus, London, United Kingdom; Department of Immunology, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Campus, London, United Kingdom; and Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases, Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom

Foxp3 is a transcription factor that is essential for the normal development of regulatory T cells (Tregs). In the absence of microRNAs (miRNAs), Foxp3⁺ Tregs develop but fail to maintain immune homeostasis, leading to a scurfy-like disease. Global analysis of the network of genes regulated by Foxp3 has identified the miRNA miR-155, which is highly expressed in Tregs, as a direct target of Foxp3. In this study we report that miR-155-deficient mice have reduced numbers of Tregs, both in the thymus and periphery, due to impaired development. However, we found no evidence for defective suppressor activity of miR-155-deficient Tregs, either in vitro or in vivo. Our results indicate that miR-155 contributes to Treg development, but that additional miRNAs control Treg function.

The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked advertisement in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

¹ This work was supported by a Babraham Institute Synergy Grant. E.V. was supported by an Medical Research Council Career Development Award. Work in the laboratories of K.O. and O.A.G. was funded by Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council Project Grants.

² S.K. and O.A.G. contributed equally to this work.

³ Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Elena Vigorito, Laboratory of Lymphocyte Signalling and Development, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, CB22 3AT, U.K. E-mail address: elena.vigorito{at}bbsrc.ac.uk

⁴ Abbreviations used in this paper: Treg, T regulatory cell; IBD, inflammatory bowel disease; miRNA, microRNA.