| First Author | Kasheta M | Year | 2017 |
| Journal | J Exp Med | Volume | 214 |
| Issue | 12 | Pages | 3519-3530 |
| PubMed ID | 29066577 | Mgi Jnum | J:251878 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6106637 | Doi | 10.1084/jem.20162084 |
| Citation | Kasheta M, et al. (2017) Identification and characterization of T reg-like cells in zebrafish. J Exp Med 214(12):3519-3530 |
| abstractText | Regulatory T (T reg) cells are a specialized sublineage of T lymphocytes that suppress autoreactive T cells. Functional studies of T reg cells in vitro have defined multiple suppression mechanisms, and studies of T reg-deficient humans and mice have made clear the important role that these cells play in preventing autoimmunity. However, many questions remain about how T reg cells act in vivo. Specifically, it is not clear which suppression mechanisms are most important, where T reg cells act, and how they get there. To begin to address these issues, we sought to identify T reg cells in zebrafish, a model system that provides unparalleled advantages in live-cell imaging and high-throughput genetic analyses. Using a FOXP3 orthologue as a marker, we identified CD4-enriched, mature T lymphocytes with properties of T reg cells. Zebrafish mutant for foxp3a displayed excess T lymphocytes, splenomegaly, and a profound inflammatory phenotype that was suppressed by genetic ablation of lymphocytes. This study identifies T reg-like cells in zebrafish, providing both a model to study the normal functions of these cells in vivo and mutants to explore the consequences of their loss. |
