[HTML][HTML] CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells suppress allograft rejection mediated by memory CD8+ T cells via a CD30-dependent mechanism

Z Dai, Q Li, Y Wang, G Gao, LS Diggs… - The Journal of …, 2004 - Am Soc Clin Investig
Z Dai, Q Li, Y Wang, G Gao, LS Diggs, G Tellides, FG Lakkis
The Journal of clinical investigation, 2004Am Soc Clin Investig
CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells suppress naive T cell responses, prevent
autoimmunity, and delay allograft rejection. It is not known, however, whether Treg cells
suppress allograft rejection mediated by memory T cells, as the latter mount faster and
stronger immune responses than their naive counterparts. Here we show that antigen-
induced, but not naive, Treg cells suppress allograft rejection mediated by memory CD8+ T
cells. Suppression was allospecific, as Treg cells induced by third-party antigens did not …
CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells suppress naive T cell responses, prevent autoimmunity, and delay allograft rejection. It is not known, however, whether Treg cells suppress allograft rejection mediated by memory T cells, as the latter mount faster and stronger immune responses than their naive counterparts. Here we show that antigen-induced, but not naive, Treg cells suppress allograft rejection mediated by memory CD8+ T cells. Suppression was allospecific, as Treg cells induced by third-party antigens did not delay allograft rejection. In vivo and in vitro analyses revealed that the apoptosis of allospecific memory CD8+ T cells is significantly increased in the presence of antigen-induced Treg cells, while their proliferation remains unaffected. Importantly, neither suppression of allograft rejection nor enhanced apoptosis of memory CD8+ T cells was observed when Treg cells lacked CD30 or when CD30 ligand–CD30 interaction was blocked with anti–CD30 ligand Ab. This study therefore provides direct evidence that pathogenic memory T cells are amenable to suppression in an antigen-specific manner and identifies CD30 as a molecule that is critical for the regulation of memory T cell responses.
The Journal of Clinical Investigation