NKG2D⁺CD4⁺ T Cells Kill Regulatory T Cells in a NKG2D-NKG2D Ligand- Dependent Manner in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

ABSTRACT: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) features a decreased pool of CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ T regulatory (Treg) cells. We had previously observed NKG2D⁺CD4⁺ T cell expansion in contrast to a decreased pool of Treg cells in SLE patients, but whether NKG2D⁺CD4⁺ T cells contribute to the decreased Treg cells remains unclear. In the present study, we found that the NKG2D⁺CD4⁺ T cells efficiently killed NKG2D ligand (NKG2DL)⁺ Treg cells in vitro, whereby the surviving Treg cells in SLE patients showed no detectable expression of NKG2DLs. It was further found that MRL/lpr lupus mice have significantly increased percentage of NKG2D⁺CD4⁺ T cells and obvious decreased percentage o

SUBMITTER: Yang D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5430709 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature