biostudies-literatureUnknown99(20)Lehmann JRegulatory CD25(+)CD4(+) T cells are considered as important players in T cell homeostasis and self-tolerance. Here we report that the integrin alpha(E)beta(7), which recognizes epithelial cadherin, identifies the most potent subpopulation of regulatory CD25(+) T cells. Strikingly, CD25-negative alpha(E)+CD4(+) T cells displayed regulatory activity. Both alpha(E)+ subsets, CD25(+) and CD25(-), express CTLA-4, suppress T cell proliferation in vitro, and protect mice from colitis in the severe combined immunodeficient model (SCID) in vivo. Whereas alpha(E)+CD25(+) T cells produce almost no cytokines, alpha(E)+CD25(-) T cells represent a unique subset in which high IL-2, IFN-gamma and T helper 2-cytokine production is linked with suppressive function. Thus, the integrin alpha(E)beta(7) can be regarded as a novel marker for subsets of highly potent, functionally distinct regulatory T cells specialized for crosstalk with epithelial environments.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America13031-6https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC130581biostudies-literatureExpression of the integrin alpha Ebeta 7 identifies unique subsets of CD25+ as well as CD25- regulatory T cells.PMC130581de la Rosa MScheffold AHamann ALehmann JMaszyna FBrunner MKrenn VKretschmer UHuehn JfalseExpression of the integrin alpha Ebeta 7 identifies unique subsets of CD25+ as well as CD25- regulatory T cells.Regulatory CD25(+)CD4(+) T cells are considered as important players in T cell homeostasis and self-tolerance. Here we report that the integrin alpha(E)beta(7), which recognizes epithelial cadherin, identifies the most potent subpopulation of regulatory CD25(+) T cells. Strikingly, CD25-negative alpha(E)+CD4(+) T cells displayed regulatory activity. Both alpha(E)+ subsets, CD25(+) and CD25(-), express CTLA-4, suppress T cell proliferation in vitro, and protect mice from colitis in the severe combined immunodeficient model (SCID) in vivo. Whereas alpha(E)+CD25(+) T cells produce almost no cytokines, alpha(E)+CD25(-) T cells represent a unique subset in which high IL-2, IFN-gamma and T helper 2-cytokine production is linked with suppressive function. Thus, the integrin alpha(E)beta(7) can be regarded as a novel marker for subsets of highly potent, functionally distinct regulatory T cells specialized for crosstalk with epithelial environments.2002-01-01T00:00:00Z2002 Oct2025-04-04T13:41:46.264Z2019-03-27T00:17:20ZS-EPMC1305811224233310.1073/pnas.192162899