Functional assay for human CD4+CD25+ Treg cells reveals an age‐dependent loss of suppressive activity

• DOI: 10.1002/jnr.10766
• Publication Date: 2004-02-20T15:01:20Z
• Authors: Laura Tsaknaridis; Leslie Spencer; Nicole Culbertson; Kevin Hicks; Dorian LaTocha; Yuan K. Chou; Ruth H. Whitham; Antony Bakke; Richard E. Jones; Halina Offner; Dennis N. Bourdette; Arthur A. Vandenbark
• Keywords: Cell Sorting

Abstract CD4 + CD25 regulatory T cells (Treg cells) prevent cell‐mediated autoimmune diseases in rodents. To develop a functional Treg assay for human blood cells, we used FACS‐ or bead‐sorted from healthy donors to inhibit anti‐CD3/CD28 activation of − indicator cells. The data clearly demonstrated classical suppression by both +high and +low obtained FACS magnetic bead sorting. Suppressive activity was found either CD45RO (naive) (memory) subpopulations, independent the TCR signal strength, required cell–cell contact, reversible interleukin‐2 (IL‐2). Of general interest is that wider sampling 27 revealed an age‐ but not gender‐dependent loss suppressive population. presence absence given donor could be consistently over time, lack due method sorting, strength signal, sensitivity Phenotypic markers did differ on tested ex vivo vs. nonsuppressive donors, although, upon vitro, had significantly higher expression CTLA‐4 GITR than same donors. Moreover, antibody neutralization CTLA‐4, GITR, IL‐10, IL‐17 completely reversed Treg‐induced suppression. Our results are highly consistent with those reported murine first demonstrate declines age. Published 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.