Enhanced selection of FoxP3+ T-regulatory cells protects CTLA-4-deficient mice from CNS autoimmune disease.

It is generally acknowledged that cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4/CD152) plays a pivotal role in the regulation of T-cell activation and the establishment of self-tolerance in the periphery. CTLA-4-deficient (CTLA-4KO) mice develop a lymphoproliferative disorder and die within 4 weeks of birth, suggesting a role for CTLA-4 in T-cell homeostasis or the development and activity of T-regulatory (Treg) cells. To study the role of CTLA-4 in the control of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), we have generated a CTLA-4KO mouse in which >90% of all CD4(+) T cells bear a Vbeta8.2 transgenic T-cell receptor that is specific for myelin basic protein peptide Ac1-9 (ASQKRPSQR). These mice do not develop spontaneous lymphoproliferative disease or EAE and are resistant to disease induction. This correlates with a higher frequency of functional FoxP3(+) Treg cells in the spleen and thymus of CTLA-4KO mice. The absence of CTLA-4-mediated suppression of CD28 signaling resulted in the early expression of FoxP3 on double-positive cells in the thymic cortex. We conclude that CTLA-4 is not essential for the peripheral function of FoxP3(+) Treg cells but plays a pivotal role in their thymic selection.

Cutting edge: Th1 cells facilitate the entry of Th17 cells to the central nervous system during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

It has recently been proposed that experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, once considered the classical Th1 disease, is predominantly Th17 driven. In this study we show that myelin-reactive Th1 preparations devoid of contaminating IL-17(+) cells are highly pathogenic. In contrast, Th17 preparations lacking IFN-gamma(+) cells do not cause disease. Our key observation is that only Th1 cells can access the noninflamed CNS. Once Th1 cells establish the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis lesion, Th17 cells appear in the CNS. These data shed important new light on the ability of Th1 vs Th17 cells to access inflamed vs normal tissue. Because the IL-17-triggered release of chemokines by stromal cells could attract many other immune cells, allowing Th17 cells to access the tissues only under conditions of inflammation may be a key process limiting (auto)immune pathology. This has major implications for the design of therapeutic interventions, many of which are now aiming at Th17 rather than Th1 cells.

A synaptic basis for paracrine interleukin-2 signaling during homotypic T cell interaction.

T cells slow their motility, increase adherence, and arrest after encounters with antigen-presenting cells (APCs) bearing peptide-MHC complexes. Here, we analyzed the cell-cell communication among activating T cells. In vivo and in vitro, activating T cells associated in large clusters that collectively persisted for >30 min, but they also engaged in more transient interactions, apparently distal to APCs. Homotypic aggregation was driven by LFA-1 integrin interactions. Ultrastructural analysis revealed that cell-cell contacts between activating T cells were organized as multifocal synapses, and T cells oriented both the microtubule-organizing complex and interleukin-2 (IL-2) secretion toward this synapse. T cells engaged in homotypic interactions more effectively captured IL-2 relative to free cells. T cells receiving paracrine synaptic IL-2 polarized their IL-2 signaling subunits into the synaptic region and more efficiently phosphorylated the transcription factor STAT5, likely through a synapse-associated signaling complex. Thus, synapse-mediated cytokine delivery accelerates responses in activating T cells.

Tim-2 regulates T helper type 2 responses and autoimmunity.

Identification of the T cell immunoglobulin mucin-domain containing (Tim) gene family introduced a new family of cell surface molecules that is involved in the regulation of immune responses. We previously demonstrated that Tim-3 is expressed on terminally differentiated T helper (Th)1 cells, and serves to regulate Th1 immune responses. Here, we describe the identification and function of Tim-2, a novel member of the Tim gene family. In contrast with Tim-3, we demonstrate that Tim-2 is expressed preferentially in differentiated Th2 cells. Blockade of the Tim-2/Tim-2 ligand interaction, by administration of soluble Tim-2 fusion protein (Tim-2 immunoglobulin [Ig]), results in T cell hyperproliferation and the production of Th2 cytokines. Administration of Tim-2 Ig during the induction phase reduces the severity of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a Th1-mediated autoimmune disease model of multiple sclerosis. We propose that Tim-2, an orthologue of human Tim-1, is critical for the regulation of Th2 responses during autoimmune inflammation.

CD226 is specifically expressed on the surface of Th1 cells and regulates their expansion and effector functions.

Surface molecules that are differentially expressed on Th1 and Th2 cells may be useful in regulating specific immune responses in vivo. Using a panel of mAbs, we have identified murine CD226 as specifically expressed on the surface of differentiated Th1 cells but not Th2 or Th0 cells. Although CD226 is constitutively expressed on CD8 cells, it is up-regulated on CD4 cells upon activation. Th1 differentiation results in enhanced CD226 expression, whereas expression is down-regulated upon Th2 polarization. We demonstrate that CD226 is involved in the regulation of T cell activation; in vivo treatment with anti-CD226 results in significant reduction of Th1 cell expansion and in the induction of APCs that inhibit T cell activation. Furthermore, anti-CD226 treatment delays the onset and reduces the severity of a Th1-mediated autoimmune disease, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Our data suggest that CD226 is a costimulatory molecule that plays an important role in activation and effector functions of Th1 cells.

The TIM gene family regulates autoimmune and allergic diseases.

The recently identified TIM gene family encodes cell-surface receptors that are involved in the regulation of Th1- and Th2-cell-mediated immunity. Tim-3 protein is specifically expressed on Th1 cells and negatively regulates Th1 responses, whereas Tim-2 is preferentially expressed in Th2 cells. Tim-1, previously identified as the hepatitis A virus receptor, co-stimulates T-cell expansion and cytokine production. Tim-4, which is preferentially expressed on mature dendritic cells, is the ligand for Tim-1. In mouse models of asthma and multiple sclerosis, affecting the function of Tim molecules altered disease phenotype. Because TIM molecules are differentially expressed on effector Th1 and Th2 cells, further understanding of the mechanisms by which they regulate Th1- and Th2-effector functions will probably provide opportunities for the therapeutic modulation of immune-mediated diseases.

Tim-3 inhibits T helper type 1-mediated auto- and alloimmune responses and promotes immunological tolerance.

Although T helper (T(H)) cell-mediated immunity is required to effectively eliminate pathogens, unrestrained T(H) activity also contributes to tissue injury in many inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. We report here that the T(H) type 1 (T(H)1)-specific Tim-3 (T cell immunoglobulin domain, mucin domain) protein functions to inhibit aggressive T(H)1-mediated auto- and alloimmune responses. Tim-3 pathway blockade accelerated diabetes in nonobese diabetic mice and prevented acquisition of transplantation tolerance induced by costimulation blockade. These effects were mediated, at least in part, by dampening of the antigen-specific immunosuppressive function of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cell populations. Our data indicate that the Tim-3 pathway provides an important mechanism to down-regulate T(H)1-dependent immune responses and to facilitate the development of immunological tolerance.

Interaction of Tim-3 and Tim-3 ligand regulates T helper type 1 responses and induction of peripheral tolerance.

T helper type 1 (T(H)1) immune responses are central in cell-mediated immunity, and a T(H)1-specific cell surface molecule called Tim-3 (T cell immunoglobulin domain, mucin domain) has been identified. Here we report the identification of a secreted form of Tim-3 that contains only the immunoglobulin (Ig) variable (V) domain of the full-length molecule. Fusion proteins (Tim-3-Ig) of both Tim-3 isoforms specifically bound CD4(+) T cells, indicating that a Tim-3 ligand is expressed on CD4(+) T cells. Administration of Tim-3-Ig to immunized mice caused hyperproliferation of T(H)1 cells and T(H)1 cytokine release. Tim-3-Ig also abrogated tolerance induction in T(H)1 cells, and Tim-3-deficient mice were refractory to the induction of high-dose tolerance. These data indicate that interaction of Tim-3 with Tim-3 ligand may serve to inhibit effector T(H)1 cells during a normal immune response and may be crucial for the induction of peripheral tolerance.

Th1-specific cell surface protein Tim-3 regulates macrophage activation and severity of an autoimmune disease.

Activation of naive CD4(+) T-helper cells results in the development of at least two distinct effector populations, Th1 and Th2 cells. Th1 cells produce cytokines (interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-2, tumour-necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and lymphotoxin) that are commonly associated with cell-mediated immune responses against intracellular pathogens, delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions, and induction of organ-specific autoimmune diseases. Th2 cells produce cytokines (IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13) that are crucial for control of extracellular helminthic infections and promote atopic and allergic diseases. Although much is known about the functions of these two subsets of T-helper cells, there are few known surface molecules that distinguish between them. We report here the identification and characterization of a transmembrane protein, Tim-3, which contains an immunoglobulin and a mucin-like domain and is expressed on differentiated Th1 cells. In vivo administration of antibody to Tim-3 enhances the clinical and pathological severity of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a Th1-dependent autoimmune disease, and increases the number and activation level of macrophages. Tim-3 may have an important role in the induction of autoimmune diseases by regulating macrophage activation and/or function.