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TGF-β–dependent suppressive function of Tregs requires wild-type levels of CD18 in a mouse model of psoriasis
Honglin Wang, … , Johannes M. Weiss, Karin Scharffetter-Kochanek
Honglin Wang, … , Johannes M. Weiss, Karin Scharffetter-Kochanek
Published June 2, 2008
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2008;118(7):2629-2639. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI34916.
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Research Article Dermatology

TGF-β–dependent suppressive function of Tregs requires wild-type levels of CD18 in a mouse model of psoriasis

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Abstract

Dysfunctional Tregs have been identified in individuals with psoriasis. However, their role in the pathogenesis of the disease remains unclear. Here we explored the effect of diminished CD18 (β2 integrin) expression on the function of CD4+CD25+CD127– Tregs using the Cd18 hypomorphic (Cd18hypo) PL/J mouse model of psoriasis that closely resembles the human disease. We found that reduced CD18 expression impaired cell-cell contact between Tregs and DCs. This led to dysfunctional Tregs, which both failed to suppress the pathogenic T cells and promoted the onset and severity of the disease. This failure was TGF-β–dependent, as Tregs derived from Cd18hypo PL/J mice had diminished TGF-β1 expression. Adoptive transfer of Tregs expressing wild-type levels of CD18 into affected Cd18hypo PL/J mice resulted in a substantial improvement of the psoriasiform skin disease, which did not occur upon coinjection of the cells with TGF-β–specific neutralizing antibody. Our data indicate a primary dysfunction of Cd18hypo Tregs, allowing subsequent hyperproliferation of pathogenic T cells in the Cd18hypo PL/J mouse model of psoriasis. This study may provide a step forward in our understanding of the unique role of CD18 expression levels in avoiding autoimmunity.

Authors

Honglin Wang, Thorsten Peters, Anca Sindrilaru, Daniel Kess, Tsvetelina Oreshkova, Xue-Zhong Yu, Anne Maria Seier, Heike Schreiber, Meinhard Wlaschek, Robert Blakytny, Jan Röhrbein, Guido Schulz, Johannes M. Weiss, Karin Scharffetter-Kochanek

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Figure 5

TGF-β1 is causal for the suppressive function of Cd18wt Tregs in vivo.

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TGF-β1 is causal for the suppressive function of Cd18wt Tregs in vivo.
 ...
(A) Cryosections from affected Cd18hypo mice were double stained with CD25-FITC and TGF-β1–Cy3 mAbs. Original magnification, ×20. (B) FACS analysis of pooled DLNs from affected Cd18hypo mice using TGF-β1 and CD25 mAbs. (C and D) Seven days after adoptive transfer of MACS-sorted Cd18wt Tregs into affected Cd18hypo mice, skin sections were stained with antibody against TGF-β1 and CD18. The overlay (yellow) of CD18-positive Cd18wt Tregs (green) and TGF-β1–expressing cells (red) indicate that most of the Cd18wt Tregs express TGF-β1 in the skin (C) and skin DLNs (D) after transfer into Cd18hypo mice. The dotted line indicates the border between epidermis and dermis. Three independent experiments were performed in total. (E) A total of 1 × 106 Tregs from either Cd18wt or Cd18hypo mice were labeled with CFSE and adoptively transferred into affected Cd18hypo mice. At day 4 after adoptive Tregs transfer, FACS analysis was performed to measure TGF-β1 expression of CFSE-labeled Cd18wt Tregs (left panel) or Cd18hypo Tregs (right panel) from skin DLNs of affected recipients. Gray region, TGF-β1 expression; white region, normal goat IgG control for TGF-β1 staining. Numbers on the top of B and E indicate the percentage of CFSE-labeled proliferating cells. (F) Following adaptive transfer of 1 × 106Cd18wt Tregs, 250-μg TGF-β1–neutralizing mAb (left panel) or isotype control IgG (right panel) were injected intraperitoneally into affected Cd18hypo recipients. Repetitive injection of TGF-β neutralizing antibody or isotype control IgG after adoptive transfer of Cd18wt Tregs was performed till the end of treatment (21 days). Original magnification, ×40 (C and D). **P = 0.002, using Student’s t test.

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