Whether human IL-10-producing regulatory T cells (“Tr1”) represent a distinct differentiation lineage or an unstable activation stage remains a key unsolved issue. Here, we report that Eomesodermin (Eomes) acted as a lineage-defining transcription factor in human IFN-γ/IL-10 coproducing Tr1-like cells. In vivo occurring Tr1-like cells expressed Eomes, and were clearly distinct from all other CD4 + T-cell subsets, including conventional cytotoxic CD4 + T cells. They expressed Granzyme (Gzm) K, but had lost CD40L and IL-7R expression. Eomes antagonized the Th17 fate, and directly controlled IFN-γ and GzmK expression. However, Eomes binding to the IL-10 promoter was not detectable in human CD4 + T cells, presumably because critical Tbox binding sites of the mouse were not conserved. A precommitment to a Tr1-like fate, i.e. concominant induction of Eomes, GzmK, and IFN-γ, was promoted by IL-4 and IL-12-secreting myeloid dendritic cells. Consistently, Th1 effector memory cells contained precommitted Eomes + GzmK + T cells. Stimulation with T-cell receptor (TCR) agonists and IL-27 promoted the generation of Tr1-like effector cells by inducing switching from CD40L to IL-10. Importantly, CD4 + Eomes + T-cell subsets were present in lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues, and their frequencies varied systemically in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and graft-versus-host disease. We propose that Eomes + Tr1-like cells are effector cells of a unique GzmK-expressing CD4 + T-cell subset.

Eomesodermin controls a unique differentiation program in human IL-10 and IFN-γ coproducing regulatory T cells / Gruarin, P.; Maglie, S.; De Simone, M.; Haringer, B.; Vasco, C.; Ranzani, V.; Bosotti, R.; Noddings, J. S.; Larghi, P.; Facciotti, F.; Sarnicola, M. L.; Martinovic, M.; Crosti, M.; Moro, M.; Rossi, R. L.; Bernardo, M. E.; Caprioli, F.; Locatelli, F.; Rossetti, G.; Abrignani, S.; Pagani, M.; Geginat, J.. - In: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY. - ISSN 0014-2980. - 49:1(2019), pp. 96-111. [10.1002/eji.201847722]

Eomesodermin controls a unique differentiation program in human IL-10 and IFN-γ coproducing regulatory T cells

Bernardo M. E.
Writing – Review & Editing
;
2019-01-01

Abstract

Whether human IL-10-producing regulatory T cells (“Tr1”) represent a distinct differentiation lineage or an unstable activation stage remains a key unsolved issue. Here, we report that Eomesodermin (Eomes) acted as a lineage-defining transcription factor in human IFN-γ/IL-10 coproducing Tr1-like cells. In vivo occurring Tr1-like cells expressed Eomes, and were clearly distinct from all other CD4 + T-cell subsets, including conventional cytotoxic CD4 + T cells. They expressed Granzyme (Gzm) K, but had lost CD40L and IL-7R expression. Eomes antagonized the Th17 fate, and directly controlled IFN-γ and GzmK expression. However, Eomes binding to the IL-10 promoter was not detectable in human CD4 + T cells, presumably because critical Tbox binding sites of the mouse were not conserved. A precommitment to a Tr1-like fate, i.e. concominant induction of Eomes, GzmK, and IFN-γ, was promoted by IL-4 and IL-12-secreting myeloid dendritic cells. Consistently, Th1 effector memory cells contained precommitted Eomes + GzmK + T cells. Stimulation with T-cell receptor (TCR) agonists and IL-27 promoted the generation of Tr1-like effector cells by inducing switching from CD40L to IL-10. Importantly, CD4 + Eomes + T-cell subsets were present in lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues, and their frequencies varied systemically in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and graft-versus-host disease. We propose that Eomes + Tr1-like cells are effector cells of a unique GzmK-expressing CD4 + T-cell subset.
2019
Differentiation
EOMES
Granzyme K
Regulatory T cells
Th17
Animals
Cell Differentiation
Cell Lineage
Cells, Cultured
Gene Expression Regulation
Graft vs Host Disease
Granzymes
Humans
Immunologic Memory
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Interferon-gamma
Interleukin-10
Mice
T-Box Domain Proteins
T-Lymphocyte Subsets
T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
Th1 Cells
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11768/106017
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