Follicular lymphoma intratumoral CD4+ CD25+ GITR+ regulatory T cells potently suppress CD3/CD28-costimulated autologous and allogeneic CD8+ CD25− and …

SP Hilchey, A De, LM Rimsza, RB Bankert… - The Journal of …, 2007 - journals.aai.org
SP Hilchey, A De, LM Rimsza, RB Bankert, SH Bernstein
The Journal of Immunology, 2007journals.aai.org
Abstract Regulatory T cells (TR) play a critical role in the inhibition of self-reactive immune
responses and as such have been implicated in the suppression of tumor-reactive effector T
cells. In this study, we demonstrate that follicular lymphoma (FL)-infiltrating CD8+ and CD4+
T cells are hyporesponsive to CD3/CD28 costimulation. We further identify a population of
FL-infiltrating CD4+ CD25+ GITR+ TR that are significantly overrepresented within FL nodes
(FLN) compared with that seen in normal (nonmalignant, nonlymphoid hyperplastic) or …
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (T R) play a critical role in the inhibition of self-reactive immune responses and as such have been implicated in the suppression of tumor-reactive effector T cells. In this study, we demonstrate that follicular lymphoma (FL)-infiltrating CD8+ and CD4+ T cells are hyporesponsive to CD3/CD28 costimulation. We further identify a population of FL-infiltrating CD4+ CD25+ GITR+ T R that are significantly overrepresented within FL nodes (FLN) compared with that seen in normal (nonmalignant, nonlymphoid hyperplastic) or reactive (nonmalignant, lymphoid hyperplastic) nodes. These T R actively suppress both the proliferation of autologous nodal CD8+ CD25− and CD4+ CD25− T cells, as well as cytokine production (IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-2), after CD3/CD28 costimulation. Removal of these cells in vitro by CD25+ magnetic bead depletion restores both the proliferation and cytokine production of the remaining T cells, demonstrating that FLN T cell hyporesponsiveness is reversible. In addition to suppressing autologous nodal T cells, these T R are also capable of suppressing the proliferation of allogeneic CD8+ CD25− and CD4+ CD25− T cells from normal lymph nodes as well as normal donor PBL, regardless of very robust stimulation of the target cells with plate-bound anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 Abs. The allogeneic suppression is not reciprocal, as equivalent numbers of CD25+ FOXP3+ cells derived from either normal lymph nodes or PBL are not capable of suppressing allogeneic CD8+ CD25− and CD4+ CD25− T cells, suggesting that FLN T R are more suppressive than those derived from nonmalignant sources. Lastly, we demonstrate that inhibition of TGF-β signaling partially restores FLN T cell proliferation suggesting a mechanistic role for TGF-β in FLN T R-mediated suppression.
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