IL-6 positively regulates Foxp3+CD8+ T cells in vivo

Int Immunol. 2010 Feb;22(2):129-39. doi: 10.1093/intimm/dxp119. Epub 2009 Dec 30.

Abstract

Although recent studies have identified regulatory roles for Foxp3(+)CD8(+) T cells, the mechanisms that induce their development and underlie their functions in vivo have not been elucidated. Here, we show that IL-6 positively regulates the Foxp3(+)CD8(+) T-cell development and function. The Foxp3(+)CD8(+) T cells that differentiated in vitro in the presence of IL-6 suppressed autoimmune colitis and arthritis in vivo. Moreover, Foxp3(+)CD8(+) T cells that developed in vivo in the presence of enhanced IL-6 signaling suppressed the development of a spontaneous T(h)17 cell-mediated autoimmune arthritis. Thus, we concluded that Foxp3(+)CD8(+) T cells develop in response to IL-6 and regulate chronic inflammation in T(h)17 cell-mediated F759 autoimmune arthritis. These results suggested that Foxp3(+)CD8(+) T cells may develop in response to IL-6 under certain inflammatory conditions in vivo and may regulate some other chronic inflammation diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arthritis / immunology
  • Arthritis / prevention & control
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology
  • Autoimmune Diseases / prevention & control
  • CD8 Antigens / genetics
  • CD8 Antigens / metabolism*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / transplantation
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Colitis / immunology
  • Colitis / prevention & control
  • Cytokine Receptor gp130 / genetics
  • Cytokine Receptor gp130 / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / deficiency
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / deficiency
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / metabolism
  • Interleukin-6 / deficiency
  • Interleukin-6 / genetics
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism*
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Signal Transduction*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • CD8 Antigens
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxp3 protein, mouse
  • IL6ST protein, human
  • Il2ra protein, mouse
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit
  • Interleukin-6
  • Rag2 protein, mouse
  • Cytokine Receptor gp130