Lung Angiogenesis Requires CD4+Forkhead Homeobox Protein-3+ Regulatory T Cells

FR D'Alessio, Q Zhong, J Jenkins… - American journal of …, 2015 - atsjournals.org
FR D'Alessio, Q Zhong, J Jenkins, A Moldobaeva, EM Wagner
American journal of respiratory cell and molecular biology, 2015atsjournals.org
Angiogenesis in ischemic organs is modulated by immune cells. Systemic
neovascularization of the ischemic lung requires macrophages, with chemokines playing a
central role in new vessel growth. Because regulatory T (Treg) cells modulate tumor-induced
neovascularization, we questioned whether this CD4+ lymphocyte subset impacts blood
vessel growth during ischemia. In a model of left lung ischemia, an increase in CD4+ CD25+
forkhead homeobox protein-3 (Foxp3)+ cells was observed 3–5 days after the onset of …
Angiogenesis in ischemic organs is modulated by immune cells. Systemic neovascularization of the ischemic lung requires macrophages, with chemokines playing a central role in new vessel growth. Because regulatory T (Treg) cells modulate tumor-induced neovascularization, we questioned whether this CD4+ lymphocyte subset impacts blood vessel growth during ischemia. In a model of left lung ischemia, an increase in CD4+ CD25+ forkhead homeobox protein-3 (Foxp3)+ cells was observed 3–5 days after the onset of ischemia in wild-type C57Bl/6 mice. Using transgenic mice where Foxp3+ Treg cells can be depleted with diphtheria toxin (DT; Foxp3DTR), we unexpectedly found that Foxp3+ Treg depletion led to markedly reduced lung angiogenesis (90% reduction from Foxp3gfp controls). Adoptive transfer studies using CD4+ CD25+ splenocytes from congenic CD45.1 mice into Foxp3+ Treg–depleted mice showed an almost complete recovery of the angiogenic phenotype (80% of Foxp3gfp controls). A survey of lung gene expression of angiogenic (lipopolysaccharide-induced CXC chemokine [LIX], IL-6, IL-17) and angiostatic (IFN-γ, transforming growth factor-β, IL-10) cytokines showed Treg-dependent differences only in LIX (CXCL5) and IL-6. Protein confirmation demonstrated a significant reduction in LIX in Treg-deficient mice compared with controls 5 days after the onset of ischemia. Phenotyping other inflammatory cells in the lung by multicolor flow cytometry demonstrated a significantly reduced number of macrophages (major histocombatibility complex class II [MHCII]int, CD11C+) in Treg-deficient lungs compared with Treg-sufficient lungs. Treg cells are essential for maximal systemic angiogenesis after pulmonary ischemia. One likely mechanism responsible for the decrease in angiogenesis in Treg-depleted mice was the decline in the essential CXC chemokine, LIX.
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