| First Author | Antov A | Year | 2003 |
| Journal | J Immunol | Volume | 171 |
| Issue | 7 | Pages | 3435-41 |
| PubMed ID | 14500638 | Mgi Jnum | J:85631 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:2675882 | Doi | 10.4049/jimmunol.171.7.3435 |
| Citation | Antov A, et al. (2003) Essential role for STAT5 signaling in CD25+CD4+ regulatory T cell homeostasis and the maintenance of self-tolerance. J Immunol 171(7):3435-41 |
| abstractText | A population of CD25(+)CD4(+) regulatory T cells (T regs) functions to maintain immunological self tolerance by inhibiting autoreactive T cell responses. CD25(+)CD4(+) T regs are present in low, but steady, numbers in the peripheral lymphoid tissues of healthy mice. Recent studies have shown that IL-2 is an essential growth factor for these cells. How this cytokine functions to regulate CD25(+)CD4(+) T reg homeostasis and prevent autoimmune disease remains unknown. In conventional CD4(+) T cells, IL-2 triggers signaling pathways that promote proliferation and survival by activating the STAT5 transcription factor and by increasing the expression of the antiapoptotic protein, Bcl-2. We show here that bcl-2 deficiency does not affect CD25(+)CD4(+) T reg homeostasis, and that ectopic expression of this molecule fails to rescue CD25(+)CD4(+) T reg numbers or to prevent the development of autoimmunity in IL-2-deficient mice. Furthermore, transient activation of STAT5 is sufficient to increase CD25(+)CD4(+) T reg numbers in IL-2-deficient mice. Our study uncovers an essential role for STAT5 in maintaining CD25(+)CD4(+) T reg homeostasis and self-tolerance. |
