Tgf-beta inhibits activation and uveitogenicity of primary but not of fully polarized retinal antigen-specific memory-effector T cells.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
PURPOSE: TGF-beta exerts suppressive effects on immunity, but its potential applications in therapy of ocular autoimmunity have not been widely explored. In the present study, the effects of TGF-beta on uveitogenic T cells were examined. METHODS: The effects of TGF-beta on newly primed cells from mice given a uveitogenic regimen of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) were compared with the effects on fully polarized Th1 cells from a long-term uveitogenic T-cell line. The parameters measured were T-cell proliferation, IFN-gamma production, induction of IL-12R expression, triggering of pathogenicity, and expression of costimulatory molecules on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) during in vitro exposure to antigen. RESULTS: TGF-beta suppressed B7.1 expression on APCs in cultures of lymph node cells from immunized mice. It also suppressed T-cell proliferation, IFN-gamma production, IL-12 receptor accumulation, and the IL-12-promoted acquisition of uveitogenic function. In contrast, the polarized Th1 cells were either resistant to suppression or were enhanced by TGF-beta. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that TGF-beta suppresses acquisition of effector functions by autopathogenic T cells, in part by interfering with their response to IL-12 through downregulation of IL-12R expression and in part through inhibition of APC function. The data suggest that although TGF-beta may effectively inhibit activation and recruitment of new T cells into the effector pool, it may be less effective in suppressing the reactivation of already polarized memory T cells that are less dependent on IL-12 and costimulation.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Xu, H; Silver, PB; Tarrant, TK; Chan, C-C; Caspi, RR
Published Date
- November 2003
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 44 / 11
Start / End Page
- 4805 - 4812
PubMed ID
- 14578402
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0146-0404
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1167/iovs.02-0843
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States