Human CD39^hi regulatory T cells present stronger stability and function under inflammatory conditions.

ABSTRACT: Autoimmune diseases are characterized by an imbalance between regulatory T cells and effector T-cell subsets, such as Th1 and Th17 cells. Studies have confirmed that natural CD4⁺Foxp3⁺ Tregs were unstable and dysfunctional in the presence of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In the current study, human CD39^hi Tregs and CD39^low Tregs were sorted from Tregs in vitro after 7 days of expansion. The functions of both Treg subsets were investigated under inflammatory conditions in vitro and in vivo. In the presence of IL-1β and IL-6, cultured CD4⁺CD39^hi Tregs maintained stable forkhead box protein 3 expression, whereas CD4⁺CD39^low Tregs lost Foxp3 expression and trans-differentiated into Th1 or Th17 cells. Decrease

SUBMITTER: Gu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5518817 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature