The mutant leucine-zipper domain impairs both dimerization and suppressive function of Foxp3 in T cells.

ABSTRACT: Regulatory T cells that express the Foxp3 transcription factor play important roles in preventing autoimmune diseases. Although several studies have demonstrated that the lack of the forkhead DNA-binding domain of Foxp3 caused severe autoimmune disease in scurfy mutant mice, the other functional domains of Foxp3 are less well characterized. Here, we show that the deletion of glutamic acid (DeltaE250) in the leucine-zipper domain of Foxp3 causes a loss of hyporesponsiveness when compared with wild-type Foxp3 upon antigenic stimulation. CD4 T cells that ectopically express the glutamic acid mutant show significant losses of suppressor activity both in vitro and in vivo. We also demonstrate that regulation of both Th1- and Th2-type cytokine secretion in CD4 T cells that express wild-type Foxp

SUBMITTER: Chae WJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1480458 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature