IL-10-producing, ST2-expressing Foxp3+ T cells in multiple sclerosis brain lesions

Immunol Cell Biol. 2017 May;95(5):484-490. doi: 10.1038/icb.2017.3. Epub 2017 Feb 7.

Abstract

CD4+Foxp3+ T regulatory (Treg) cells provide a key defence against inflammatory disease, but also have an ability to produce pro-inflammatory cytokines. The evidence for these two possibilities in multiple sclerosis (MS) is controversial. However, this has largely been based on studies of circulating Treg cells derived from peripheral blood, rather than the central nervous system. We show that Foxp3+ cells in the brains of MS patients predominantly produce interleukin-10 (IL-10) and show high expression of the IL-33 receptor ST2 (associated with potent Treg function), indicating that Treg in the inflamed brain maintain their suppressive function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / pathology*
  • CD4 Antigens / metabolism
  • Female
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein / metabolism*
  • Interleukin-10 / biosynthesis*
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Multiple Sclerosis / immunology*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / pathology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • CD4 Antigens
  • FOXP3 protein, human
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • IL1RL1 protein, human
  • Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Interleukin-10