CCL-21 conditioned regulatory T cells induce allotolerance through enhanced homing to lymphoid tissue.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are instrumental in the induction and maintenance of tolerance, including in transplantation. Tregs induce allotolerance by interacting with APCs and T cells, interactions that require their proper homing to the lymphoid tissues. Using a well-characterized model of corneal allotransplantation, we demonstrate in this study that Tregs in the draining lymph nodes (LN) of allograft acceptors, but not rejectors, colocalize with APCs in the paracortical areas and express high levels of CCR7. In addition, we show that Treg expression of CCR7 is important not only for Treg homing to the draining LN, but also for optimal Treg suppressive function. Finally, we show that Tregs augmented for CCR7 expression by their ex vivo stimulation with the CCR7 ligand CCL21 show enhanced homing to the draining LN of allograft recipients and promote transplant survival. Together, these findings suggest that CCR7 expression is critical for Treg function and migration and that conditioning of Treg for maximal CCR7 expression may be a viable strategy for promoting allograft survival.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Chauhan, SK; Saban, DR; Dohlman, TH; Dana, R
Published Date
- January 15, 2014
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 192 / 2
Start / End Page
- 817 - 823
PubMed ID
- 24337379
Pubmed Central ID
- PMC3947335
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1550-6606
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.4049/jimmunol.1203469
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States