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CD4+ regulatory T cells require CTLA-4 for the maintenance of systemic tolerance.

The Journal of experimental medicine | 2009

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) plays a critical role in negatively regulating T cell responses and has also been implicated in the development and function of natural FOXP3(+) regulatory T cells. CTLA-4-deficient mice develop fatal, early onset lymphoproliferative disease. However, chimeric mice containing both CTLA-4-deficient and -sufficient bone marrow (BM)-derived cells do not develop disease, indicating that CTLA-4 can act in trans to maintain T cell self-tolerance. Using genetically mixed blastocyst and BM chimaeras as well as in vivo T cell transfer systems, we demonstrate that in vivo regulation of Ctla4(-/-) T cells in trans by CTLA-4-sufficient T cells is a reversible process that requires the persistent presence of FOXP3(+) regulatory T cells with a diverse TCR repertoire. Based on gene expression studies, the regulatory T cells do not appear to act directly on T cells, suggesting they may instead modulate the stimulatory activities of antigen-presenting cells. These results demonstrate that CTLA-4 is absolutely required for FOXP3(+) regulatory T cell function in vivo.

Pubmed ID: 19188497 RIS Download

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Associated grants

  • Agency: NIAID NIH HHS, United States
    Id: R01 AI054670
  • Agency: NIAID NIH HHS, United States
    Id: R21 AI059880
  • Agency: NIAID NIH HHS, United States
    Id: AI054670
  • Agency: NIAID NIH HHS, United States
    Id: AI59880

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Harvard University; Cambridge; United States (tool)

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Institution of higher education in the United States. Private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

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C57BL/6J (tool)

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Mus musculus with name C57BL/6J from IMSR.

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