The JI PBL Intereron Source
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     
 

This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Grimbert, P.
Right arrow Articles by Sarfati, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Grimbert, P.
Right arrow Articles by Sarfati, M.
The Journal of Immunology, 2006, 177: 3534-3541.
Copyright © 2006 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.

Thrombospondin/CD47 Interaction: A Pathway to Generate Regulatory T Cells from Human CD4+CD25– T Cells in Response to Inflammation1

Philippe Grimbert2,*, Salim Bouguermouh2,*, Nobuyasu Baba*,{ddagger}, Toshiharu Nakajima{ddagger}, Zoulfia Allakhverdi{dagger}, Deborah Braun3,*, Hirohisa Saito{ddagger},§, Manuel Rubio*, Guy Delespesse{dagger} and Marika Sarfati4,*

* Immunoregulation and {dagger} Allergy Laboratories, Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montreal, Research Center, Hospital Notre-Dame, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; {ddagger} Laboratory for Allergy Transcriptome, Institute for Physical and Chemical Research, Research Center for Allergy and Immunology, Tokyo, Japan.; and § Department of Allergy and Immunology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan


   Abstract
Top
 Abstract
Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 Disclosures
 References
 
Thymus-derived CD4+ CD25+ T regulatory cells (Tregs) are essential for the maintenance of self-tolerance. What critical factors and conditions are required for the extra-thymic development of Tregs remains an important question. In this study, we show that the anti-inflammatory extracellular matrix protein, thrombospondin-1, promoted the generation of human peripheral regulatory T cells through the ligation of one of its receptor, CD47. CD47 stimulation by mAb or a thrombospondin-1 peptide induced naive or memory CD4+CD25– T cells to become suppressive. The latter expressed increased amounts of CTLA-4, OX40, GITR, and Foxp3 and inhibited autologous Th0, Th1, and Th2 cells. Their regulatory activity was contact dependent, TGF-beta independent, and partially circumvented by IL-2. This previously unknown mechanism to induce human peripheral Tregs in response to inflammation may participate to the limitation of collateral damage induced by exacerbated responses to self or foreign Ags and thus be relevant for therapeutic intervention in autoimmune diseases and transplantation.


   Introduction
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 Disclosures
 References
 
Control of self-reactive T cells by naturally occurring CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs)5 mediates peripheral T cell tolerance and prevention of autoimmunity (1, 2). In vitro, Tregs are anergic and suppress the activation and proliferation of naive T cells in a non Ag-specific, but contact-dependent manner (3). In vivo proliferation of Tregs, together with their migration to inflammatory sites increases their potential function for the control of pathogen-specific effector T cells in sites of inflammation as well as tumor-specific T cells (4, 5, 6). Foxp3, a member of the forkhead family of transcription factors encoding the protein scurfin, is a master gene controlling the development and the function of Tregs (7, 8). Scurfy mice and humans with IPEX (Immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy) syndrome have a loss-of-function mutation of Foxp3, and develop severe autoimmune and inflammatory diseases (9). Adoptive transfer of Tregs from wild-type littermate into sf mice prevents development of the disease. Although there is no doubt that Tregs are generated within the thymus during normal T cell development, the peripheral conversion of CD4+CD25– T cells into regulatory T cells and their Ag-specific expansion has been recently demonstrated (10, 11). Such Tregs are distinct from the in vitro induced "adaptive" regulatory T cells that mainly include Tr1 and Th3 cells (1, 12, 13). Tr1 cells are Foxp3– (14) and differ from Tregs by their pattern of cytokine production (IL-10 and/or TGF-beta, respectively) and their mode of suppression (in vitro contact-independent inhibitory function). An important question is, which of the endogenous receptors and/or cytokines convert extrathymic naive Foxp3– CD4+CD25– T cells into Tregs expressing Foxp3. Recent reports indicate that minute Ag dose turns on Foxp3 in murine naive CD4+CD25– T cells and converts them into regulatory T cells. TGF-beta and IL-2 favor their peripheral conversion (15, 16, 17). Similarly, TGF-beta induces human CD28- and TCR-stimulated CD4+CD25– T cells to acquire the function and phenotype of Tregs (18). In fact, TGF-beta plays a critical role in the development, function, and survival of Tregs (19, 20, 21).

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP) is a potent anti-inflammatory molecule, which is rapidly and transiently released at high concentrations in injured and damaged tissues even in the absence of pathogen (22, 23). TSP, predominantly secreted by platelets and APC, inhibits angiogenesis, tumor cell growth and promotes apoptosis (24). Notably, TSP is composed of several structural domains that specifically interact with a range of cellular receptors differentially expressed by a variety of cells (24), which could explain its broad spectrum of biological activities. For instance, TSP exerts both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on T cells via two TSP receptors, i.e., {alpha}4beta1 and CD47, respectively. However, intact TSP is predominantly an inhibitor of TCR signal transduction (25) and IL-12 responsiveness of naive and adult T cells (26, 27). Most relevant to the present study, TSP is the main activator of TGF-beta (28). As such, TGF-beta and TSP-null mice display a similar phenotype, persistent inflammation in multiple organs (28). Thus, TSP displays at least two essential properties required to dampen inflammation. It inhibits proinflammatory cytokine secretion by APC (29) and facilitates the removal of apoptotic cells by phagocytes (30).

We previously reported that CD47 ligation induces naive T cell anergy (31). In this study, we provide evidence that interaction between CD47 on activated CD4+CD25– human T cells and CD47-specific TSP peptide promoted the generation of CD4+Foxp3+ T cells that suppressed the proliferation and cytokine production of autologous Tho, Th1, and Th2 cells via a contact-dependent mechanism. The induction of extra-thymic regulatory T cells in response to TSP represents a third mechanism whereby TSP may interfere with the inflammatory process, thus identifying CD47/TSP as potential targets for the development of anti-inflammatory drugs.


   Materials and Methods
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
Results
 Discussion
 Disclosures
 References
 
Reagents

Anti-CD3 mAb (UCHT-1) was provided by Dr. C. Hivroz (Institut Curie, Paris, France). The CD32/B7.1 double-transfected mouse L fibroblasts have been described previously (31). The 4N1K peptide (KRFYVVMWWKK) corresponding to the C-terminal domain of TSP that selectively binds CD47 and the mutant 4NGG peptide (KRFYGGMWKK) were obtained from Genosys. The 4N1K sequence is highly conserved in all TSP family members (32). CD47 mAb, (clone B6H12, mouse IgG1, BioSource International) was used in soluble form. CFSE was purchased from Molecular Probes. Human soluble TGF-betaRII was obtained from R&D Systems.

Cell preparation and culture conditions

The procedure of blood collection from human volunteers has been reviewed and approved by CHUM ethic and research committees. Umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC) and PBMC from normal healthy volunteers were isolated by density-gradient centrifugation of heparinized blood using Lymphoprep (Nycomed). Naive CD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD25– T cells were selected from CBMC by depletion of CD8+ cells (EasySep kit; StemCell Technologies) followed by negative selection using CD25 microbeads (Miltneyi Biotec). For adult naive CD45RA+CD4+CD25– T cells, we performed an additional depletion using CD45RO microbeads. Memory CD4+ T cells were obtained by CD8 depletion (StemCell Technologies) followed by negative selection with CD25 and CD45RA microbeads. Purity was determined to be >97% CD4+CD25– by FACS analysis.

The differentiation of naive T cells into Th0, Th1, and Th2 cells was performed as described previously (31). Briefly, CBMC were cultured with PHA (1 µg/ml) in neutral conditions or in the presence of IL-12 (60 pM) and anti-IL-4 mAb (1 µg/ml) or a combination of IL-4 (20 ng/ml) and anti-IL-12 (5 µg/ml), respectively, together with soluble CD47mAb (10 µg/ml) and soluble 4N1K or 4NGG (50 µg/ml). After 3 days, cells (>98% CD3-positive cells) were washed and expanded for 9–12 days in cultured medium supplemented with IL-2. To assess cell division during expansion in IL-2, cells were labeled with CFSE at the end of the primary cultures. Cells were then washed and restimulated at 2 x 105 cells per ml with anti-CD3 (200 ng/ml) immobilized on mitomycin C-treated double CD32/B7.1 L-transfectants (2 x 105 cells per ml). Purified naive CD4+CD25– T cells were isolated from CBMC and primed with anti-CD3 (1 µg/ml) in the presence of IL-1 (10 ng/ml) and TNF-{alpha} (25 ng/ml). After 3 days, cells were expanded in medium supplemented with IL-2 and restimulated as described above. Cell proliferation was determined by adding 1 µCi [3H]thymidine (Amersham Biosciences) during 6 h of 2 days of culture. IFN-{gamma} and IL-10 were measured by ELISA after 48-h restimulation as described (31). For TGF-beta detection, T cells were restimulated for 72 h in synthetic HB101 serum-free medium (Irvine Scientific).

Memory CD4+CD25– T cells (0.5 x 106 cells/ml) were activated with plate-bound anti-CD3 mAb (10 µg/ml) alone or with soluble anti-CD28 (0.5 µg/ml) (BD Pharmingen) in the presence or absence of CD47 mAb (10 µg/ml) in 96-well flat-bottom microplates. After 4 days of priming, cells were washed and expanded (1 x 106 cells/ml) in 24-well plate for 7 days in the presence of anti-CD3 mAb (0.1 µg/ml) immobilized on CD32 L-transfectants (8 x 104 cells/ml) and IL-2 (200 IU/ml). At day 4, 1 ml of complete medium supplemented with IL-2 (400 IU/ml) was added to the culture. T cells were collected and re-stimulated weekly. After three rounds of expansion, memory T cells were rested for 48 h in complete medium with IL-2 before examining their regulatory activity.

Suppression assays

Tas (1 x 105 cells per ml) generated from CBMC, CD25–CBMC, and umbilical naive CD4+CD25– T cells were cocultured with autologous Th0, Th1, or Th2 cells at a 1:1 ratio unless otherwise indicated. Cultures were stimulated for 48–72 h with anti-CD3 (50 ng/ml) immobilized on mitomycin C-treated double CD32/B7.1 L-transfectants fibroblasts (1–2 x 105 cells per ml). To determine their mode of suppression, Tas and Th0 or Th1 were physically separated using Transwell culture system (BD Biosciences). In some experiments, the regulatory function of Tas was assessed as follows: freshly isolated purified CD4+ responder T cells (1 x 105 per ml) were CFSE labeled and cocultured with autologous unlabelled purified CD4+ T cells or allogeneic expanded naive or memory regulatory T cells at a 3:1 ratio.

Flow cytometry analysis

Cells were stained with FITC-, PE-, PerCP-conjugated CD4, CD25, and CD28 mAb; granzyme A; Fas; FasL; biotinylated CD47; and OX40-conjugated mAbs followed by allophycocyanin-streptavidin (BD Biosciences), allophycocyanin-granzyme B (Caltag), PE-coupled GITR mAb, PE-TGF-beta chicken Ab (R&D Systems) or isotype-matched control Abs (BD Biosciences). Cells were analyzed using a FACScalibur (BD Biosciences). For intracytoplasmic staining, cells were fixed with 1% paraformaldehyde for 10 min at room temperature, washed, and stained in permeabilizing buffer (PBS containing 0.03% saponin) with PE-conjugated CTLA-4 (BD Biosciences). To detect intracytoplasmic Foxp3 expression, cells were first fixed and then stained with PE-anti-human Foxp3 mAb (eBiosciences) in permabilizing buffer for 30 min at 4°C.

Foxp3 mRNA analysis

RNA was extracted using an RNeasy Mini kit (Qiagen), and 1 µg of each sample was reversed transcribed using SuperScript (Invitrogen Life Technologies). For real-time quantitative PCR (TaqMan), message levels were quantified using the ABI PRISM 7700 sequence detector system (BD Applied Biosystems). The quantitative PCR was performed using TaqMan universal PCR master mix (BD Applied Biosystems) according to the manufacturer's protocol. Relative expression of each sample was determined by normalizing expression of each target to GAPDH, and then comparing this value to the normalized expression in a reference sample to calculate a fold-change value. The values for samples were calculated by ddCT method. Foxp3 quantitative analysis was performed using Assay on Demand and GAPDH using predeveloped TaqMan assay reagent target kits (Applied Biosystems).


   Results
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
Discussion
 Disclosures
 References
 
Induction of human regulatory T cells by CD47/TSP interaction

Our initial studies indicated that CD47 ligation on naive T cells promotes the development of anergic T cells that produce very low amounts of cytokines including IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IFN-{gamma} (31). In this study, we show that the newly generated T cells, hereafter named Tas (for T anergic/suppressor cells), displayed regulatory activity (Fig. 1). We started with a well-established model known to induce Th0, Th1, and Th2 cells from cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC), an abundant source of unmanipulated naive T cells. CBMC were stimulated with PHA in neutral conditions in the absence or presence of irrelevant control (Th0) or CD47 mAb (Tas); after 3 days, >98% of the cells in culture were CD3+ T cells (31). The cultured T cells were CFSE labeled and expanded in IL-2, and cell division was examined at day 5 (Fig. 1A). Both CD47 mAb-treated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (Tas) underwent less cell division than did Th0 cells. In fact, Tas expanded four times less and displayed significant lower proliferative response than did Th0 to CD3/CD28 costimulation (Fig. 1B), indicating that CD47 ligation induced a general T cell hyporesponsiveness even after the delivery of two signals. Tas secreted less IL-10 but similar amounts of TGF-beta, compared with Th0 (Fig. 1C). They suppressed in a dose-dependent manner the proliferation and production of IFN-{gamma} by autologous Th0 in response to low and high CD3 stimulation (Fig. 1, D and F). The mean percentage reduction in Th0 proliferation and IFN-{gamma} production in presence of Tas in five experiments was 65 and 73%, respectively.


Figure 1
View larger version (26K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
  		FIGURE 1. Induction of T anergic/suppressor cells Tas by CD47/TSP interactions. CBMC were stimulated with PHA (1 µg/ml) in the presence of anti-CD47 or control mAb (each at 10 µg/ml) for 3 days and expanded in IL-2. A, Cells were labeled with CFSE after priming, expanded in IL-2 for 5 days, and then stained with CD4 mAb before FACS analysis. B and C, Cells were collected at day 9, washed, and restimulated in HB101 serum-free medium for 3 days with anti-CD3 mAb (200 ng/ml); the IL10 and TGF-beta production was detected by ELISA in the same cell preparation. Data are the mean ± SD of nine experiments. D–G, Regulatory activity of Tas. D and E, Target cells (Th0) and Tas were cultured alone (1 x 105) or together at a 1:1 ratio and stimulated with graded concentrations of anti-CD3 mAb (50 (dashed column), 100 (open column), 200 (black column) ng/ml). E, Graded numbers of Tas or Th0 were added to 2 x 105/ml Th0 cells. Shown is one representative experiment of five. F, CD47mAb-induced Tas suppressed the IFN-{gamma} production in Th0. Data represent the mean ± SEM of five experiments. G, 4N1K (TSP peptide selectively binding CD47)-induced Tas suppressed the IFN-{gamma} production in 4NNG (irrelevant control peptide)-induced Th0. Peptides were used at 50 µg/ml. B, C, and F, *, p < 0.05, paired two-tailed Student’s t test.

 
TSP, the natural ligand of CD47 is a multifunctional molecule containing several structurally and functionally distinct domains (24). Because T cells express a second TSP receptor, {alpha}4beta1, we studied the 4N1K peptide that corresponds to the C-terminal domain of TSP and selectively binds CD47 as ligand. CBMC were stimulated with PHA in the presence of 4N1K (Tas) or irrelevant control peptide 4NNG (Th0), washed and expanded with IL-2. CD47/4N1K interactions on primary naive cells promoted the generation of regulatory T cells (Th0 + Tas). The 4NNG-treated cells lacked suppressive function (2 x Th0 cells) (Fig. 1G). These data strongly suggested that CD47 mAb, as reported previously, exert an agonistic activity mimicking the natural CD47 ligand, TSP.

Contact-dependent and TGF-beta-independent regulatory function of Tas

Effector T cells are refractory to the suppressive activity of Tregs in the presence of IL-4 (33). In this study, we showed that Tas inhibited IL-4 and IFN-{gamma} production as well as cell proliferation of autologous Th2 and Th1 cells, respectively (Fig. 2, A and B). We next attempted to explore the mechanisms implicated in Tas regulatory function and found that the suppression of autologous T cells was contact dependent (Fig. 2B). Accordingly, Tas did not suppress the proliferation and cytokine production when separated from their targets by a semipermeable membrane.


Figure 2
View larger version (23K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
  		FIGURE 2. Contact-dependent but TGF-beta-independent Tas regulatory function and role of IL-2. A, Tas suppressed the proliferation and the production of IL-4 of Th2 cells. B, The suppressive activity of Tas on the proliferation and cytokine production on Th0 and Th1 was contact-dependent; Th0//TAS or Th1//TAS referred to cocultures where the cells were physically separated in a transwell system. C, IL-2 (100 u/ml) added during cocultures of Tas and Th0 circumvemted the inhibition of proliferation but not IFN-{gamma} production by Tas. Data represent mean ± SEM of five experiments. *, p < 0.05, Student’s t test. D, Tas regulatory activity was not overcome by TGF-beta neutralization using soluble-TGF-beta RII at 125 µg/ml. A, B, and D show one of four representative experiments.

 
Murine Tregs regulatory function is contact dependent and exogenous IL-2 abrogates the suppression of proliferation but not cytokine production of T effector cells in a cocultures system (34). IL-2 circumvented Tas inhibition of Th0 cell proliferation and IFN-{gamma} production. However, Il-2 strongly augmented IFN-{gamma} production and Th0 + Tas cells still produced significantly less IFN-{gamma} than did Th0 cells (Fig. 2C).

Some studies report that Tregs exert their suppressive function through endogenous TGF-beta, expressed as a membrane-bound or secreted molecule. Also, TSP is the main activator of TGF-beta through its type1 repeat and not its C-terminal domain (28). In this study, we showed that Th0 and Tas produced similar amounts of TGF-beta (Fig. 1C). It was still relevant to examine whether the CD47-induced regulatory function was mediated by active TGF-beta. The inhibitory function of Tas was not overcome by soluble TGF-betaIIR, pointing to a TGF-beta-independent mode of suppression (Fig. 2D). Observations indicated that Tas regulatory function was not altered by the addition of IL-1 or IL-6, known to abrogate the suppressive function of murine Tregs (35), and that neutralization of TGF-beta and IL-10 in the induction phase (CBMC primary cultures) did not preclude suppressive function of the expanded Tas (P. Grimbert and M. Rubio, unpublished observations). Thus, the development of Tas following CD47/4N1K did not require the presence of the TGF-beta and IL-10, known to convert naive T cells into adaptive Tregs and/or Tr1.

Activated phenotype and Foxp3 expression by Tas

We next examined the phenotype of Tas and compared it to that of Th0 cells. As expected from activated T cells, CD4+ Th0 cells expressed the three conventional markers of Tregs, i.e., GITR, CTLA-4, and OX40 (Fig. 3, A and C). However, the expression of these three molecules was significantly up-regulated in CD4+ Tas. Tas did not express significant amounts of membrane TGF-beta, latency-associated peptide of TGF-beta nor TSP (data not shown), further corroborating with their TGF-beta-independent suppressive function. They expressed similar quantities of CD25, CD28, and CD47 to Th0 cells. Because the suppression of Th0 by Tas was contact dependent, we examined the expression of mediators of cytotoxicity. CD4+ Tas expressed similar amounts of Fas and granzyme A to Th0 and no significant amount of FasL and granzyme B (Fig. 3B).


Figure 3
View larger version (42K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
  		FIGURE 3. Activated phenotype of Tas and expression of Foxp3. A–D, Th0 and Tas were stained for FACS analysis after 9 days of expansion in IL-2. Two-color analysis for the expression of OX40, GITR, CTLA-4, TGF-beta, CD25, CD28, and CD47 (A) and of FAS, FAS-L, granzyme A, and granzyme B (B) on CD4+ cells. C, Quadruple labeling with Abs to CD4, OX40, GITR, and CTLA-4. Shown is the analysis of double-positive cells after gating on CD4+ T cells. D, Foxp3 expression analyzed by flow cytometry (left) and real-time PCR (right). Th0 and Tas were labeled with Abs to CD4, CD25 (surface staining), than permeabilized, fixed and stained for Foxp3 (intracellular staining). Shown is the analysis of double-positive cells after gating on CD4+ T cells. Foxp3 mRNA was quantified in freshly isolated purified CD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD25– umbilical cord blood T cells as well as in Th0 and Tas. A–D, Each single dot plot (double, triple, or quadruple staining) represents one of three experiments. The quadrant labels showed the proportion of single or double-positive cells.

 
Foxp3 is considered to be the hallmark of Tregs, and we found an increased proportion of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ cells in Tas, compared with Th0 (Fig. 3D). In keeping with recent observations, Th0 were comprised of a mixture of CD4+CD25+Foxp3– effectors and CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells (11). We confirmed the up-regulation of Foxp3 expression by quantifying mRNA in Th0 and Tas using real-time PCR (Fig. 3D). Tas displayed a 3-fold increase in Foxp3 mRNA, compared with Th0. Also, Foxp3 mRNA expression was higher in freshly isolated and highly purified CD4+CD25+ than CD4+CD25– cord blood T cells, confirming that Foxp3 was indeed expressed in naive CD4+CD25+ T cells in humans (36, 37).

Conversion of naive CD4+CD25– naive and memory T into regulatory T cells by CD47 ligation

Thus, one could argue that CD47 ligation exclusively expanded the proliferation of preexisting naive CD4+CD25+ Tregs present in CBMC. As a first approach, we used CBMC depleted in CD25+ cells (CBMC CD25–) and showed that, in the absence of naive CD4+CD25+ Tregs, CD47 ligation promoted the development of regulatory Tas (Fig. 4A). These data suggest that induction of Tas occurred by engaging CD47 on CD45RA+CD25– T cells and did not require the presence of naive CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs in the starting cultures. However, we did not exclude the possibility that CD47/TSP interactions might as well favor the expansion of thymus-derived Tregs.


Figure 4
View larger version (19K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
  		FIGURE 4. Ligation of TSP receptor directly converts CD4+CD25– naive and memory T cells into Foxp3+ regulatory T cells. A, Tas were obtained from CBMC depleted of CD25+ cells (CD25–) and stimulated with PHA (1 µg/ml) in the presence of anti-CD47 or control mAb (each at 10 µg/ml) for 3 days and expanded in IL-2. Tas suppressed the IFN-{gamma} production in Th1. Shown is one of two representative experiments. B, Tas and Th0 cells were obtained as described above except that CD4+ T cells isolated at the end of the expansion were in IL-2 (CD4+) and compared with Tas. Cells (Tas and CD4+) were assessed for their suppressive activity on autologous Th1 cells. Data represent the mean ± SEM of five experiments. *, p < 0.05, Student’s t test. C, Highly purified naive CD4+CD25– T cells isolated form cord blood were stimulated with IL-1 (10 ng/ml), TNF-{alpha} (25 ng/ml), anti-CD3 (1 µg/ml) with or without CD47 mAb (10 µg/ml) or 4N1K (50 µg/ml) and expanded for 6 days in IL2. Cells were assessed for their suppressive activity on autologous Th0 cells. Data represent the mean ± SEM of five experiments, *, p < 0.05, Student’s t test (upper panel); real-time quantitative PCR analysis of Foxp3 mRNA in Th0 and Tas. One representative experiment of three is shown (lower panel). D, Highly purified naive CD4+CD25– T cells isolated from adult blood Tas were stimulated as in C. Tas were cocultured with freshly isolated CFSE-labeled allogeneic adult CD4+ T cells (bottom panel), unlabeled adult CD4+ T cells were used as controls (middle panel). E, Adult memory CD4+CD25– T cells were activated on plate-bound anti-CD3 with soluble anti-CD47, anti-CD28 or both mAbs, followed by three rounds of expansion and 48-h rest in medium supplemented with IL-2. Data (gated on CFSE-labeled cells) show the proliferation of CFSE-labeled freshly isolated CD4+ T cells cocultured with memory CD4+ T cells activated under three different conditions at a 3:1 ratio. Shown is the FACS analysis of one representative experiment of five (percentage of divided cells; left panel). Four separate experiments represented by different symbols (right panel). One-way ANOVA; **, p < 0.01; ***, p < 0.001.

 
So far, we showed that ligation of the TSP receptor on unfractionated CBMC promoted the generation of regulatory T cells enriched in GITR+OX40+CTLA-4+CD4+ T cells and CD4+Foxp3+ T cells. We also observed an increased proportion of Fas+ granzymeA+granzymeB+ CD8+ T cells in the CD47 mAb-treated cell preparations (Fig. 3B). In fact, the CD47-induced enriched Tas population displayed no cytolytic function on autologous target cells or K562 leukemic cell lines (data not shown), whereas the CD4+ T cells isolated at the end of Tas expansion in IL-2 (the proportion ranges from 28 to 70% in different blood samples), displayed a similar suppressive function to the nonseparated Tas cell preparation (Fig. 4B). Notwithstanding, these data did not rule out a requirement for CD8+ T cells at the initial phase of CD4+ Tas induction.

We therefore determined whether direct CD47 engagement on purified naive CD4+CD25– T cells converted them into regulatory T cells. Indeed, TSP inhibits dendritic cell (DC) maturation and T cell activation and thus may exert its effect either on DC and/or on T cells to induce CBMC-derived Tas (25, 38). To this end, purified CD45RA+CD4+CD25– T cells, which did not express Foxp3 mRNA (Fig. 3D), were stimulated with anti-CD3 in the presence of CD47 mAb or 4N1K peptide. Naive T cells absolutely require a costimulatory signal for their initial activation but CD28 costimulation prevents CD47-induced anergy in naive T cells (31). We thus supplemented the CD3-activated naive T cells with IL1-beta and TNF-{alpha} (39), a context mimicking inflammatory conditions whereby TSP is abundantly produced in vivo. CD47 ligation on activated purified naive CD4+CD25– T cells promoted the development of Tas that suppressed IFN-{gamma} production of autologous Th0 cells and expressed increased amounts of Foxp3 when compared with Th0 generated in the presence of control mAb or 4NNG peptide (Fig. 4C). To ascertain the suppressive function of Tas on the target cells, we independently investigated the proliferation of the latter, using CFSE-labeled flow cytometry. Tas generated from adult naive CD4+CD25– T cells significantly inhibited cell division of allogeneic adult CD4+ T cells as measured by CFSE dilution (Fig. 4D). Finally, CD47 ligation induced adult CD3-stimulated CD4+CD25– memory T to become suppressor cells (Fig. 4E). However, in this particular case, memory T cells required repetitive stimulation with anti-CD3 and IL-2 to become efficient regulatory T cells. Again, Tas suppressive function was contact dependent under these experimental conditions (data not shown). In humans and mice (11, 40), CD28 allows the peripheral conversion of CD4+CD25– T cells into regulatory T cells. In this study, we confirmed these observations (Fig. 4E, right). However, CD28 costimulation at priming impaired CD47-induced Tas development from memory T cells, in agreement with the impairment of anergy induction in naive T cells (31).

Taken together, our data demonstrate that interaction between a CD47-specific TSP peptide and CD47 on human naive (cord blood or adult) and memory CD4+CD25– T cells promoted the generation of regulatory T cells that were enriched in CD4+Foxp3+ and exerted their suppressive function in a contact-dependent manner.


   Discussion
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
Disclosures
 References
 
Our present findings identified TSP, a protein rapidly and transiently expressed at high levels in inflamed and damaged tissues, as an inducer of human peripheral regulatory T cells. The latter were hyporesponsive to CD3 and CD28 costimulation, produced small quantities of cytokines and suppressed the proliferation and cytokine production by autologous Th0, Th1, and Th2 cells in a contact-dependent manner. These adaptive Tregs expressed an activated phenotype as well as increased amounts of Foxp3. As such, the CD47-induced Tregs resemble naturally occurring thymus-derived Tregs. However, Tas exhibited distinct features: they expressed similar amount of CD25 to Th0 and displayed neither granzyme B expression nor cytolytic function. The induction of adaptive Tregs by TSP during an inflammatory process is reminiscent of recent findings showing that CD46 ligation by the C3b complement fragment induces the development of cytotoxic Tr1. The latter express substantial amounts of granzyme B (41, 42). Also, Tr1/IL-10-induced Tregs lack Foxp3 expression and do not require cell-cell contact to exert their regulatory function in vitro (14, 43). Tas thus differed from CD46 mAb- or IL-10-induced Tregs by phenotype, cytokine profile and mode of suppression (13, 44). TSP is produced by immature and mature DC (29). Immature DC are described as tolerogenic (45) in that they induce T cells that secrete large quantities of IL-10 and suppress the proliferation of autologous freshly isolated PBMC in a contact-dependent manner (44). Interestingly, PGE2 is a potent inducer of TSP in DC (29) and induces Foxp3 on human CD4+ T cells that display contact-independent regulatory function (46).

In this study, we provided evidence that CD47 ligation converted naive or memory CD4+CD25– T cells into CD4+Foxp3+ T cells. CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells are thymus-derived and now designated endogenous Tregs or natural Tregs, but increasing evidence in mice and humans indicate that CD4+CD25+Foxp3-expressing T cells may be very efficiently induced outside the thymus. The induction of peripheral adaptive Tregs is often proven to be TGF-beta- mediated (15, 18, 47). In that regard, Foxp3+ Tregs are rapidly induced following blood-stage infection with malaria sporozoite, and their presence is associated with a burst of TGF-beta production, decreased proinflammatory cytokine production, and Ag-specific immune responses (48). Because TSP is an important activator of TGF-beta, it was relevant to demonstrate that TSP (i.e., 4N1K peptide) might promote the generation of CD4+ Tregs via its direct interaction with CD47 and Tas suppressive function was TGF-beta independent.

Selective expression of the Foxp3 gene in naturally occurring Tregs during thymic development is not sufficient to protect otherwise Foxp3-null mice from developing disease (9, 49). This suggests that continued peripheral expression of Foxp3 is required to control disease. Again, TGF-beta participates to the maintenance of peripheral Foxp3 expression (21), and the present results suggest that intact TSP may directly or indirectly contribute to this process in vivo. Nevertheless, while Foxp3 expression is definitely required to confer suppressive activity in murine Tregs (7), it may not be sufficient for the function of human Tregs isolated from healthy donors or patients suffering from multiple sclerosis or autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type II (50, 51). The latter express similar amounts of Foxp3, CTLA-4, and TGF-beta to Tregs from control donors.

TSP is endowed with potent anti-inflammatory activities at steady state and under inflammatory conditions. In vivo, using a cell-based gene therapy in a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis, TSP acts by suppressing the IL-1beta and enhancing the TGF-beta production (52). In this study, we propose that TSP that is produced in the lymph node (mainly by mature DC) may convert naive CD4+CD25– T cells into Tregs that negatively control the inflammatory processes either in lymphoid organs and/or in sites of inflammation. Increased recruitment of naturally occurring Tregs combined with peripheral conversion of naive T cells appear to occur in situ when exacerbated inflammation takes place, for instance in joints of rheumatoid arthritis patients (53). However, the molecules involved in Tas migration to tissues remain to be determined. The CD103 Ag, predominantly expressed by CD25– and CD25+ murine Tregs with suppressive properties (54), is induced by TGF-beta (55) and involved in the retention of Tregs to the inflammatory sites (56). CCR4 and CCR8 also are expressed on human Tregs (57). Observations indicate that Tas, like freshly isolated human Tregs (58), do not express significant levels of CD103 and displayed similar amounts of CCR7, CCR4, and CCR8 to Th0 (P. Grimbert, S. Bouguermouh, and M. Rubio, unpublished observations). Finally, TSP, also secreted at peripheral sites in response to inflammation, might further dampen the inflammatory process by down-regulating DC maturation via at least three receptors: CD47, CD51, and CD36 (38), as well as facilitating the engulfment of damaged tissues and cells.

Therefore, it can be hypothesized that TSP, akin to TGF-beta and IL-10, when released in the context of an inflammatory response, promotes the generation of peripheral regulatory T cells that keep in check the inflammatory process and avoid collateral damage induced by self or foreign Ags. After renal allograft, TSP, TFG-beta, and Foxp3 mRNA are increased (23, 59). Surprisingly, the latter are significantly correlated with acute rejection, and high levels of Foxp3 transcripts predict an acute rejection reversal. Finally, ex vivo induction and expansion of human suppressor T cells by CD47 mAb, as recently proposed for CD45RO/RB mAb (60), may open avenues to design strategies for the treatment of graft rejection, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.


   Disclosures
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 Disclosures
References
 
The authors have no financial conflict of interest.


   Footnotes
 
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 the Canadian Institute for Health and Research (MOP-4490). Philippe Grimbert was sponsored by the French Society of Transplantation. Back

2 P.G. and S.B. contributed equally to this work. Back

3 Current address: Institut Pasteur, 25–28 rue du Dr Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France. Back

4 Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Marika Sarfati, Immunoregulation Laboratory, Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montreal, Hopital Notre-Dame (Pavillon Mailloux, M4211K), 1560 Sherbrooke Street East, Montreal, Quebec H2L 4M1, Canada. E-mail address: m.sarfati{at}umontreal.ca Back

5 Abbreviations used in this paper: Treg, regulatory T cell; TSP, thrombospondin-1; CBMC, cord blood mononuclear cell; DC, dendritic cell. Back

Received for publication March 28, 2006. Accepted for publication June 19, 2006.


   References
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 Disclosures
 References
 

  1. Bluestone, J. A., A. K. Abbas. 2003. Natural versus adaptive regulatory T cells. Nat. Rev. Immunol. 3: 253-257. [Medline]
  2. Shevach, E. M.. 2002. CD4+CD25+ suppressor T cells: more questions than answers. Nat. Rev. Immunol. 2: 389-400. [Medline]
  3. Levings, M. K., R. Sangregorio, M. G. Roncarolo. 2001. Human cd25+cd4+ t regulatory cells suppress naive and memory T cell proliferation and can be expanded in vitro without loss of function. J. Exp. Med. 193: 1295-1302. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  4. Belkaid, Y., C. A. Piccirillo, S. Mendez, E. M. Shevach, D. L. Sacks. 2002. CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells control Leishmania major persistence and immunity. Nature 420: 502-507. [Medline]
  5. Walker, L. S., A. Chodos, M. Eggena, H. Dooms, A. K. Abbas. 2003. Antigen-dependent proliferation of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in vivo. J. Exp. Med. 198: 249-258. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  6. Wang, H. Y., D. A. Lee, G. Peng, Z. Guo, Y. Li, Y. Kiniwa, E. M. Shevach, R. F. Wang. 2004. Tumor-specific human CD4+ regulatory T cells and their ligands: implications for immunotherapy. Immunity 20: 107-118. [Medline]
  7. Hori, S., T. Nomura, S. Sakaguchi. 2003. Control of regulatory T cell development by the transcription factor Foxp3. Science 299: 1057-1061. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  8. Fontenot, J. D., M. A. Gavin, A. Y. Rudensky. 2003. Foxp3 programs the development and function of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells. Nat. Immunol. 4: 330-336. [Medline]
  9. Ramsdell, F., S. F. Ziegler. 2003. Transcription factors in autoimmunity. Curr. Opin. Immunol. 15: 718-724. [Medline]
  10. Apostolou, I., A. Sarukhan, L. Klein, H. von Boehmer. 2002. Origin of regulatory T cells with known specificity for antigen. Nat. Immunol. 3: 756-763. [Medline]
  11. Walker, M. R., D. J. Kasprowicz, V. H. Gersuk, A. Benard, M. Van Landeghen, J. H. Buckner, S. F. Ziegler. 2003. Induction of FoxP3 and acquisition of T regulatory activity by stimulated human CD4+CD25– T cells. J. Clin. Invest. 112: 1437-1443. [Medline]
  12. Barrat, F. J., D. J. Cua, A. Boonstra, D. F. Richards, C. Crain, H. F. Savelkoul, R. de Waal-Malefyt, R. L. Coffman, C. M. Hawrylowicz, A. O’Garra. 2002. In vitro generation of interleukin 10-producing regulatory CD4+ T Cells is induced by immunosuppressive drugs and inhibited by T helper type 1 (Th1)- and Th2-inducing cytokines. J. Exp. Med. 195: 603-616. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  13. Battaglia, M., M. G. Roncarolo. 2004. The role of cytokines (and not only) in inducing and expanding T regulatory type 1 cells. Transplantation 77: S16-S188. [Medline]
  14. Vieira, P. L., J. R. Christensen, S. Minaee, E. J. O’Neill, F. J. Barrat, A. Boonstra, T. Barthlott, B. Stockinger, D. C. Wraith, A. O’Garra. 2004. IL-10-secreting regulatory T cells do not express Foxp3 but have comparable regulatory function to naturally occurring CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells. J. Immunol. 172: 5986-5993. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  15. Kretschmer, K., I. Apostolou, D. Hawiger, K. Khazaie, M. C. Nussenzweig, H. von Boehmer. 2005. Inducing and expanding regulatory T cell populations by foreign antigen. Nat. Immunol. 6: 1219-1227. [Medline]
  16. Knoechel, B., J. Lohr, E. Kahn, J. A. Bluestone, A. K. Abbas. 2005. Sequential development of interleukin 2-dependent effector and regulatory T cells in response to endogenous systemic antigen. J. Exp. Med. 202: 1375-1386. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  17. Zhang, H., K. S. Chua, M. Guimond, V. Kapoor, M. V. Brown, T. A. Fleisher, L. M. Long, D. Bernstein, B. J. Hill, D. C. Douek, et al 2005. Lymphopenia and interleukin-2 therapy alter homeostasis of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells. Nat. Med. 11: 1238-1243. [Medline]
  18. Chen, W., W. Jin, N. Hardegen, K. J. Lei, L. Li, N. Marinos, G. McGrady, S. M. Wahl. 2003. Conversion of peripheral CD4+CD25– naive T cells to CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells by TGF-beta induction of transcription factor Foxp3. J. Exp. Med. 198: 1875-1886. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  19. Peng, Y., Y. Laouar, M. O. Li, E. A. Green, R. A. Flavell. 2004. TGF-beta regulates in vivo expansion of Foxp3-expressing CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells responsible for protection against diabetes. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101: 4572-4577. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  20. Nakamura, K., A. Kitani, W. Strober. 2001. Cell contact-dependent immunosuppression by CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells is mediated by cell surface-bound transforming growth factor beta. J. Exp. Med. 194: 629-644. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  21. Marie, J. C., J. J. Letterio, M. Gavin, A. Y. Rudensky. 2005. TGF-beta1 maintains suppressor function and Foxp3 expression in CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells. J. Exp. Med. 201: 1061-1067. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  22. Raugi, G. J., J. E. Olerud, A. M. Gown. 1987. Thrombospondin in early human wound tissue. J. Invest. Dermatol. 89: 551-554. [Medline]
  23. Baboolal, K., G. A. Jones, A. Janezic, D. R. Griffiths, W. A. Jurewicz. 2002. Molecular and structural consequences of early renal allograft injury. Kidney Int. 61: 686-696. [Medline]
  24. Bornstein, P.. 2001. Thrombospondins as matricellular modulators of cell function. J. Clin. Invest. 107: 929-934. [Medline]
  25. Li, Z., M. J. Calzada, J. M. Sipes, J. A. Cashel, H. C. Krutzsch, D. S. Annis, D. F. Mosher, D. D. Roberts. 2002. Interactions of thrombospondins with {alpha}4beta1 integrin and CD47 differentially modulate T cell behavior. J. Cell Biol. 157: 509-519. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  26. Latour, S., H. Tanaka, C. Demeure, V. Mateo, M. Rubio, E. J. Brown, C. Maliszewski, F. P. Lindberg, A. Oldenborg, A. Ullrich, et al 2001. Bidirectional negative regulation of human T and dendritic cells by CD47 and its cognate receptor signal-regulator protein-{alpha}: down-regulation of IL-12 responsiveness and inhibition of dendritic cell activation. J. Immunol. 167: 2547-2554. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  27. Avice, M. N., M. Rubio, M. Sergerie, G. Delespesse, M. Sarfati. 2000. CD47 ligation selectively inhibits the development of human naive T cells into Th1 effectors. J. Immunol. 165: 4624-4631. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  28. Crawford, S. E., V. Stellmach, J. E. Murphy-Ullrich, S. M. Ribeiro, J. Lawler, R. O. Hynes, G. P. Boivin, N. Bouck. 1998. Thrombospondin-1 is a major activator of TGF-beta1 in vivo. Cell 93: 1159-1170. [Medline]
  29. Doyen, V., M. Rubio, D. Braun, T. Nakajima, J. Abe, H. Saito, G. Delespesse, M. Sarfati. 2003. Thrombospondin 1 is an autocrine negative regulator of human dendritic cell activation. J. Exp. Med. 198: 1277-1283. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  30. Bratton, D. L., P. M. Henson. 2005. Autoimmunity and apoptosis: refusing to go quietly. Nat. Med. 11: 26-27. [Medline]
  31. Avice, M. N., M. Rubio, M. Sergerie, G. Delespesse, M. Sarfati. 2001. Role of CD47 in the induction of human naive T cell anergy. J. Immunol. 167: 2459-2468. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  32. Brown, E. J., W. A. Frazier. 2001. Integrin-associated protein (CD47) and its ligands. Trends Cell Biol. 11: 130-135. [Medline]
  33. Pace, L., S. Rizzo, C. Palombi, F. Brombacher, G. Doria. 2006. Cutting edge: IL-4-induced protection of CD4+CD25– Th cells from CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cell-mediated suppression. J. Immunol. 176: 3900-3904. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  34. Thornton, A. M., E. E. Donovan, C. A. Piccirillo, E. M. Shevach. 2004. Cutting edge: IL-2 is critically required for the in vitro activation of CD4+CD25+ T cell suppressor function. J. Immunol. 172: 6519-6523. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  35. Pasare, C., R. Medzhitov. 2003. Toll pathway-dependent blockade of CD4+CD25+ T cell-mediated suppression by dendritic cells. Science 299: 1033-1036. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  36. Ng, W. F., P. J. Duggan, F. Ponchel, G. Matarese, G. Lombardi, A. D. Edwards, J. D. Isaacs, R. I. Lechler. 2001. Human CD4+CD25+ cells: a naturally occurring population of regulatory T cells. Blood 98: 2736-2744. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  37. Godfrey, W. R., D. J. Spoden, Y. G. Ge, S. R. Baker, B. Liu, B. L. Levine, C. H. June, B. R. Blazar, S. B. Porter. 2005. Cord blood CD4+CD25+-derived T regulatory cell lines express FoxP3 protein and manifest potent suppressor function. Blood 105: 750-758.
  38. Demeure, C. E., H. Tanaka, V. Mateo, M. Rubio, G. Delespesse, M. Sarfati. 2000. CD47 engagement inhibits cytokine production and maturation of human dendritic cells. J. Immunol. 164: 2193-2199. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  39. Wu, C. Y., C. Demeure, M. Kiniwa, M. Gately, G. Delespesse. 1993. IL-12 induces the production of IFN-{gamma} by neonatal human CD4 T cells. J. Immunol. 151: 1938-1949. [Abstract]
  40. Liang, S., P. Alard, Y. Zhao, S. Parnell, S. L. Clark, M. M. Kosiewicz. 2005. Conversion of CD4+CD25– cells into CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in vivo requires B7 costimulation, but not the thymus. J. Exp. Med. 201: 127-137. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  41. Kemper, C., A. C. Chan, J. M. Green, K. A. Brett, K. M. Murphy, J. P. Atkinson. 2003. Activation of human CD4+ cells with CD3 and CD46 induces a T-regulatory cell 1 phenotype. Nature 421: 388-392. [Medline]
  42. Grossman, W. J., J. W. Verbsky, W. Barchet, M. Colonna, J. P. Atkinson, T. J. Ley. 2004. Human T regulatory cells can use the perforin pathway to cause autologous target cell death. Immunity 21: 589-601. [Medline]
  43. Levings, M. K., S. Gregori, E. Tresoldi, S. Cazzaniga, C. Bonini, M. G. Roncarolo. 2005. Differentiation of Tr1 cells by immature dendritic cells requires IL-10 but not CD25+CD4+ Tr cells. Blood 105: 1162-1169. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  44. Jonuleit, H., E. Schmitt. 2003. The regulatory T cell family: distinct subsets and their interrelations. J. Immunol. 171: 6323-6327. [Free Full Text]
  45. Steinman, R. M., D. Hawiger, M. C. Nussenzweig. 2003. Tolerogenic dendritic cells. Annu. Rev. Immunol. 21: 685-711. [Medline]
  46. Baratelli, F., Y. Lin, L. Zhu, S. C. Yang, N. Heuze-Vourc’h, G. Zeng, K. Reckamp, M. Dohadwala, S. Sharma, S. M. Dubinett. 2005. Prostaglandin E2 induces FOXP3 gene expression and T regulatory cell function in human CD4+ T cells. J. Immunol. 175: 1483-1490. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  47. Fantini, M. C., C. Becker, I. Tubbe, A. Nikolaev, H. A. Lehr, P. R. Galle, M. F. Neurath. 2006. TGF-beta induced Foxp3+ regulatory T cells suppress Th1-mediated experimental colitis. Gut 55: 671-680. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  48. Walther, M., J. E. Tongren, L. Andrews, D. Korbel, E. King, H. Fletcher, R. F. Andersen, P. Bejon, F. Thompson, S. J. Dunachie, et al 2005. Up-regulation of TGF-beta, FOXP3, and CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells correlates with more rapid parasite growth in human malaria Infect. Immunity 23: 287-296. [Medline]
  49. Khattri, R., T. Cox, S. A. Yasayko, F. Ramsdell. 2003. An essential role for Scurfin in CD4+CD25+ T regulatory cells. Nat. Immunol. 4: 337-342. [Medline]
  50. Kriegel, M. A., T. Lohmann, C. Gabler, N. Blank, J. R. Kalden, H. M. Lorenz. 2004. Defective suppressor function of human CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type II. J. Exp. Med. 199: 1285-1291. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  51. Allan, S. E., L. Passerini, R. Bacchetta, N. Crellin, M. Dai, P. C. Orban, S. F. Ziegler, M. G. Roncarolo, M. K. Levings. 2005. The role of 2 FOXP3 isoforms in the generation of human CD4 Tregs. J. Clin. Invest. 115: 3276-3284. [Medline]
  52. Jou, I. M., A. L. Shiau, S. Y. Chen, C. R. Wang, D. B. Shieh, C. S. Tsai, C. L. Wu. 2005. Thrombospondin 1 as an effective gene therapeutic strategy in collagen-induced arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 52: 339-344. [Medline]
  53. de Kleer, I. M., L. R. Wedderburn, L. S. Taams, A. Patel, H. Varsani, M. Klein, W. de Jager, G. Pugayung, F. Giannoni, G. Rijkers, et al 2004. CD4+CD25bright regulatory T cells actively regulate inflammation in the joints of patients with the remitting form of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. J. Immunol. 172: 6435-6443. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  54. Huehn, J., K. Siegmund, J. C. Lehmann, C. Siewert, U. Haubold, M. Feuerer, G. F. Debes, J. Lauber, O. Frey, G. K. Przybylski, et al 2004. Developmental stage, phenotype, and migration distinguish naive- and effector/memory-like CD4+ regulatory T cells. J. Exp. Med. 199: 303-313. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  55. Rao, P. E., A. L. Petrone, P. D. Ponath. 2005. Differentiation and expansion of T cells with regulatory function from human peripheral lymphocytes by stimulation in the presence of TGF-beta. J. Immunol. 174: 1446-1455. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  56. Suffia, I., S. K. Reckling, G. Salay, Y. Belkaid. 2005. A role for CD103 in the retention of CD4+CD25+ Treg and control of Leishmania major infection. J. Immunol. 174: 5444-5455. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  57. Iellem, A., M. Mariani, R. Lang, H. Recalde, P. Panina-Bordignon, F. Sinigaglia, D. D’Ambrosio. 2001. Unique chemotactic response profile and specific expression of chemokine receptors CCR4 and CCR8 by CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells. J. Exp. Med. 194: 847-853. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  58. Stassen, M., S. Fondel, T. Bopp, C. Richter, C. Muller, J. Kubach, C. Becker, J. Knop, A. H. Enk, S. Schmitt, et al 2004. Human CD25+ regulatory T cells: two subsets defined by the integrins {alpha}4beta7 or {alpha}4beta1 confer distinct suppressive properties upon CD4+ T helper cells. Eur. J. Immunol. 34: 1303-1311. [Medline]
  59. Muthukumar, T., D. Dadhania, R. Ding, C. Snopkowski, R. Naqvi, J. B. Lee, C. Hartono, B. Li, V. K. Sharma, S. V. Seshan, et al 2005. Messenger RNA for FOXP3 in the urine of renal-allograft recipients. N. Engl. J. Med. 353: 2342-2351. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  60. Gregori, S., P. Mangia, R. Bacchetta, E. Tresoldi, F. Kolbinger, C. Traversari, J. M. Carballido, J. E. de Vries, U. Korthauer, M. G. Roncarolo. 2005. An anti-CD45RO/RB monoclonal antibody modulates T cell responses via induction of apoptosis and generation of regulatory T cells. J. Exp. Med. 201: 1293-1305. [Abstract/Free Full Text]



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 BloodHome page
M. C. Ruzek, J. S. Waire, D. Hopkins, G. LaCorcia, J. Sullivan, B. L. Roberts, S. M. Richards, S. R. Nahill, J. M. Williams, A. Scaria, et al.
Characterization of in vitro antimurine thymocyte globulin-induced regulatory T cells that inhibit graft-versus-host disease in vivo
Blood, February 1, 2008; 111(3): 1726 - 1734.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 FASEB J.Home page
C. Rennemeier, S. Hammerschmidt, S. Niemann, S. Inamura, U. Zahringer, and B. E. Kehrel
Thrombospondin-1 promotes cellular adherence of Gram-positive pathogens via recognition of peptidoglycan
FASEB J, October 1, 2007; 21(12): 3118 - 3132.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Immunol.Home page
L. Lamy, A. Foussat, E. J. Brown, P. Bornstein, M. Ticchioni, and A. Bernard
Interactions between CD47 and Thrombospondin Reduce Inflammation
J. Immunol., May 1, 2007; 178(9): 5930 - 5939.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Circ. Res.Home page
J. S. Isenberg, M. J. Romeo, M. Abu-Asab, M. Tsokos, A. Oldenborg, L. Pappan, D. A. Wink, W. A. Frazier, and D. D. Roberts
Increasing Survival of Ischemic Tissue by Targeting CD47
Circ. Res., March 16, 2007; 100(5): 712 - 720.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Grimbert, P.
Right arrow Articles by Sarfati, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Grimbert, P.
Right arrow Articles by Sarfati, M.

HOME HELP