Low-dose IL-2 selectively activates subsets of CD4⁺ Tregs and NK cells.

ABSTRACT: CD4⁺ regulatory T cells (CD4Tregs) play a critical role in the maintenance of immune tolerance and prevention of chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. IL-2 supports the proliferation and survival of CD4Tregs and previous studies have demonstrated that IL-2 induces selective expansion of CD4Tregs and improves clinical manifestations of chronic GVHD. However, mechanisms for selective activation of CD4Tregs and the effects of low-dose IL-2 on other immune cells are not well understood. Using mass cytometry, we demonstrate that low concentrations of IL-2 selectively induce STAT5 phosphorylation in Helios⁺ CD4Tregs and CD56^brightCD16^- NK cells in vitro. Preferential activation and expansion

SUBMITTER: Hirakawa M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5085610 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature