Alterations in CD46-mediated Tr1 regulatory T cells in patients with multiple sclerosis

J Clin Invest. 2006 Dec;116(12):3252-7. doi: 10.1172/JCI29251. Epub 2006 Nov 9.

Abstract

Loss of Treg function appears to be a critical factor in the pathogenesis of human autoimmune diseases. Attention has focused on defects of CD4(+)CD25(high) Tregs, and techniques have been developed to determine their function. In contrast, the role of Tr1 regulatory T cells, which secrete the antiinflammatory cytokine IL-10, in autoimmune disease has not been well assessed. CD46 is a newly defined costimulatory molecule for T cell activation, and CD46-costimulated human T cells induce a Tr1 Treg phenotype with considerable amounts of IL-10 secretion. Here, we examined the role of Tr1 cells in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) by stimulating CD4(+) T cells with anti-CD3 and -CD46 mAbs and measuring IL-10 secretion. There were striking defects in the induction of Tr1 cells with CD46 costimulation as measured by IL-10 but not IFN-gamma secretion in patients with MS compared with healthy subjects. This loss of Tr1 cell-associated IL-10 secretion was specific to CD46 and not CD28 costimulation and was associated with an altered regulation of the CD46-Cy2 isoform that differentially regulates T cell function in a CD46-transgenic murine model. These data demonstrate a second major Treg defect in human autoimmune disease associated with the CD46 pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • CD28 Antigens / metabolism
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-10 / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Male
  • Membrane Cofactor Protein / genetics
  • Membrane Cofactor Protein / metabolism*
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis / genetics
  • Multiple Sclerosis / immunology
  • Multiple Sclerosis / metabolism*
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism*

Substances

  • CD28 Antigens
  • Membrane Cofactor Protein
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Interleukin-10