Human regulatory CD8 T cells

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2008 Dec:1150:234-8. doi: 10.1196/annals.1447.000.

Abstract

Administration of a humanized monoclonal anti-CD3 antibody (mAb) to patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) increases their C-peptide responses and the CD8/CD4 ratio. Incubation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with mAb in vitro has been shown to induce CD8(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) capable of inhibiting proliferation of CD4(+) T cells. We hypothesized that CD8(+) Tregs function through secretion of cytokines. To test that possibility, we generated CD8(+) Tregs, sorted them by FACS, incubated them with syngeneic CD8-depleted PBMC in the presence of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), and measured proliferation of T cells and cytokines. Using neutralizing anti-cytokine mAbs, we show that the inhibitory effect of CD8(+) Tregs could be partially alleviated by anti-CCL-4, anti-TNF, and to a lesser extent anti-IL2, suggesting that these cytokines contribute to CD8(+) Treg function.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies / pharmacology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / physiology*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chemokine CCL4 / immunology
  • Chemokine CCL4 / metabolism
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Cytokines / pharmacology
  • Cytokines / physiology*
  • Fas Ligand Protein / immunology
  • Fas Ligand Protein / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-2 / immunology
  • Interleukin-2 / metabolism
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / physiology*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / immunology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Chemokine CCL4
  • Cytokines
  • Fas Ligand Protein
  • Interleukin-2
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Interferon-gamma