T-cell expression of AhR inhibits the maintenance of pT_reg cells in the gastrointestinal tract in acute GVHD.

ABSTRACT: The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that affects the function and development of immune cells. Here, we show that recipient mice receiving AhR^-/- T cells have improved survival and decreased acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) in 2 different murine allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT) models. We also show that CD4⁺ T cells lacking AhR demonstrate reduced accumulation in secondary lymphoid tissue because of low levels of proliferation 4 days after BMT. Additionally, we found a significant increase in the quantity of peripherally induced regulatory donor T (pT_reg) cells in the colon of recipients transplanted with AhR^-/- T cells 14 days after transplant. Blockade of AhR using a clinically available

SUBMITTER: Dant TA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5520467 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature