B cells and professional APCs recruit regulatory T cells via CCL4

RS Bystry, V Aluvihare, KA Welch, M Kallikourdis… - Nature …, 2001 - nature.com
RS Bystry, V Aluvihare, KA Welch, M Kallikourdis, AG Betz
Nature immunology, 2001nature.com
Using gene expression profiling, we show here that activation of B cells and professional
antigen-presenting cells (APCs) induces the expression of common chemokines. Among
these, CCL4 was the most potent chemoattractant of a CD4+ CD25+ T cell population, which
is a characteristic phenotype of regulatory T cells. Depletion of either regulatory T cells or
CCL4 resulted in a deregulated humoral response, which culminated in the production of
autoantibodies. This suggested that the recruitment of regulatory T cells to B cells and APCs …
Abstract
Using gene expression profiling, we show here that activation of B cells and professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) induces the expression of common chemokines. Among these, CCL4 was the most potent chemoattractant of a CD4+CD25+ T cell population, which is a characteristic phenotype of regulatory T cells. Depletion of either regulatory T cells or CCL4 resulted in a deregulated humoral response, which culminated in the production of autoantibodies. This suggested that the recruitment of regulatory T cells to B cells and APCs by CCL4 plays a central role in the normal initiation of T cell and humoral responses, and failure to do this leads to autoimmune activation.
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