Regulatory T cell suppressive potency dictates the balance between bacterial proliferation and clearance during persistent Salmonella infection.

ABSTRACT: The pathogenesis of persistent infection is dictated by the balance between opposing immune activation and suppression signals. Herein, virulent Salmonella was used to explore the role and potential importance of Foxp3-expressing regulatory T cells in dictating the natural progression of persistent bacterial infection. Two distinct phases of persistent Salmonella infection are identified. In the first 3-4 weeks after infection, progressively increasing bacterial burden was associated with delayed effector T cell activation. Reciprocally, at later time points after infection, reductions in bacterial burden were associated with robust effector T cell activation. Using Foxp3(GFP) reporter mice for ex vivo isolation of regulatory T cells, we demonstrate that the dichotomy in infection tempo be

SUBMITTER: Johanns TM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2920851 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature