The majority of human peripheral blood CD4+ CD25highFoxp3+ regulatory T cells bear functional skin-homing receptors

K Hirahara, L Liu, RA Clark, K Yamanaka… - The Journal of …, 2006 - journals.aai.org
K Hirahara, L Liu, RA Clark, K Yamanaka, RC Fuhlbrigge, TS Kupper
The Journal of Immunology, 2006journals.aai.org
Abstract CD4+ CD25+ T regulatory cells (Treg) are thought to be important in the peripheral
tolerance. Recent evidence suggests that human peripheral blood CD4+ CD25+ T cells are
heterogeneous and contain both CD4+ CD25 high T cells with potent regulatory activity and
many more CD4+ CD25 low/med nonregulatory T cells. In this study, we found that virtually
all peripheral blood CD4+ CD25 high Foxp3+ Treg expressed high levels of the chemokine
receptor CCR4. In addition, 80% of Treg expressed cutaneous lymphocyte Ag (CLA) and …
Abstract
CD4+ CD25+ T regulatory cells (Treg) are thought to be important in the peripheral tolerance. Recent evidence suggests that human peripheral blood CD4+ CD25+ T cells are heterogeneous and contain both CD4+ CD25 high T cells with potent regulatory activity and many more CD4+ CD25 low/med nonregulatory T cells. In this study, we found that virtually all peripheral blood CD4+ CD25 high Foxp3+ Treg expressed high levels of the chemokine receptor CCR4. In addition, 80% of Treg expressed cutaneous lymphocyte Ag (CLA) and 73% expressed CCR6. These molecules were functional, as CLA+ Treg showed CD62E ligand activity and demonstrable chemotactic responses to the CCR4 ligands CCL22 and CCL17 and to the CCR6 ligand CCL20. The phenotype and chemotactic response of these Treg were significantly different from those of CD4+ CD25 med nonregulatory T cells. We further demonstrated that blood CLA+ Treg inhibited CD4+ CD25− T cell proliferation induced by anti-CD3. Based on homing receptor profile, CLA+ Treg should enter normal skin. We next isolated CD4+ CD25 high T cells directly from normal human skin; these cells suppressed proliferation of skin CD4+ CD25− T cells. Therefore, the majority of true circulating Treg express functional skin-homing receptors, and human Treg may regulate local immune responses in normal human skin.
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