Repression of the genome organizer SATB1 in regulatory T cells is required for suppressive function and inhibition of effector differentiation.

Regulatory T cells (T(reg) cells) are essential for self-tolerance and immune homeostasis. Lack of effector T cell (T(eff) cell) function and gain of suppressive activity by T(reg) cells are dependent on the transcriptional program induced by Foxp3. Here we report that repression of SATB1, a genome organizer that regulates chromatin structure and gene expression, was crucial for the phenotype and function of T(reg) cells. Foxp3, acting as a transcriptional repressor, directly suppressed the SATB1 locus and indirectly suppressed it through the induction of microRNAs that bound the SATB1 3' untranslated region. Release of SATB1 from the control of Foxp3 in T(reg) cells caused loss of suppressive function, establishment of transcriptional T(eff) cell programs and induction of T(eff) cell cytokines. Our data support the proposal that inhibition of SATB1-mediated modulation of global chromatin remodeling is pivotal for maintaining T(reg) cell functionality.

Self-antigen-driven activation induces instability of regulatory T cells during an inflammatory autoimmune response.

Stable Foxp3 expression is crucial for regulatory T (Treg) cell function. We observed that antigen-driven activation and inflammation in the CNS promoted Foxp3 instability selectively in the autoreactive Treg cells that expressed high amounts of Foxp3 before experimental autoimmune encephalitis induction. Treg cells with a demethylated Treg-cell-specific demethylated region in the Foxp3 locus downregulated Foxp3 transcription in the inflamed CNS during the induction phase of the response. Stable Foxp3 expression returned at the population level with the resolution of inflammation or was rescued by IL-2-anti-IL-2 complex treatment during the antigen priming phase. Thus, a subset of fully committed self-antigen-specific Treg cells lost Foxp3 expression during an inflammatory autoimmune response and might be involved in inadequate control of autoimmunity. These results have important implications for Treg cell therapies and give insights into the dynamics of the Treg cell network during autoreactive CD4(+) T cell effector responses in vivo.

Innate antiviral host defense attenuates TGF-ß function through IRF3-mediated suppression of Smad signaling.

TGF-ß signaling is essential in many processes, including immune surveillance, and its dysregulation controls various diseases, including cancer, fibrosis, and inflammation. Studying the innate host defense, which functions in most cell types, we found that RLR signaling represses TGF-ß responses. This regulation is mediated by activated IRF3, using a dual mechanism of IRF3-directed suppression. Activated IRF3 interacts with Smad3, thus inhibiting TGF-ß-induced Smad3 activation and, in the nucleus, disrupts functional Smad3 transcription complexes by competing with coregulators. Consequently, IRF3 activation by innate antiviral signaling represses TGF-ß-induced growth inhibition, gene regulation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and the generation of Treg effector lymphocytes from naive CD4(+) lymphocytes. Conversely, silencing IRF3 expression enhances epithelial-mesenchymal transition, TGF-ß-induced Treg cell differentiation upon virus infection, and Treg cell generation in vivo. We present a mechanism of regulation of TGF-ß signaling by the antiviral defense, with evidence for its role in immune tolerance and cancer cell behavior.

Instability of the transcription factor Foxp3 leads to the generation of pathogenic memory T cells in vivo.

Regulatory T cells (T(reg) cells) are central to the maintenance of immune homeostasis. However, little is known about the stability of T(reg) cells in vivo. In this study, we demonstrate that a substantial percentage of cells had transient or unstable expression of the transcription factor Foxp3. These 'exFoxp3' T cells had an activated-memory T cell phenotype and produced inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, exFoxp3 cell numbers were higher in inflamed tissues in autoimmune conditions. Adoptive transfer of autoreactive exFoxp3 cells led to the rapid onset of diabetes. Finally, analysis of the T cell receptor repertoire suggested that exFoxp3 cells developed from both natural and adaptive T(reg) cells. Thus, the generation of potentially autoreactive effector T cells as a consequence of Foxp3 instability has important implications for understanding autoimmune disease pathogenesis.

Regulatory T cells: stability revisited.

Breakdown in self-tolerance is caused, in part, by loss of regulatory T (Treg) cells. Recently, a controversy has surfaced about whether Treg cells are overwhelmingly stable, or if they can be reprogrammed in inflammatory and autoimmune environments. Those in the instability camp have shown that a fraction of Treg cells lose forkhead box P3 protein and acquire effector arm activities. Instability is coupled with interleukin-2 insufficiency and the inflammatory milieu that promotes reprogramming. Here, we highlight the basic tenets of each viewpoint and discuss technical, biological and environmental differences in the models that might help yield a unifying hypothesis. Also considered is how Treg cell instability could link to development of autoimmune disease and the implications for trials of Treg cell-based therapy.

ICOS Promotes the Function of CD4+ Effector T Cells during Anti-OX40-Mediated Tumor Rejection.

ICOS is a T-cell coregulatory receptor that provides a costimulatory signal to T cells during antigen-mediated activation. Antitumor immunity can be improved by ICOS-targeting therapies, but their mechanism of action remains unclear. Here, we define the role of ICOS signaling in antitumor immunity using a blocking, nondepleting antibody against ICOS ligand (ICOS-L). ICOS signaling provided critical support for the effector function of CD4(+) Foxp3(-) T cells during anti-OX40-driven tumor immune responses. By itself, ICOS-L blockade reduced accumulation of intratumoral T regulatory cells (Treg), but it was insufficient to substantially inhibit tumor growth. Furthermore, it did not impede antitumor responses mediated by anti-4-1BB-driven CD8(+) T cells. We found that anti-OX40 efficacy, which is based on Treg depletion and to a large degree on CD4(+) effector T cell (Teff) responses, was impaired with ICOS-L blockade. In contrast, the provision of additional ICOS signaling through direct ICOS-L expression by tumor cells enhanced tumor rejection and survival when administered along with anti-OX40 therapy. Taken together, our results showed that ICOS signaling during antitumor responses acts on both Teff and Treg cells, which have opposing roles in promoting immune activation. Thus, effective therapies targeting the ICOS pathway should seek to promote ICOS signaling specifically in effector CD4(+) T cells by combining ICOS agonism and Treg depletion. Cancer Res; 76(13); 3684-9. ©2016 AACR.

CD28-inducible transcription factor DEC1 is required for efficient autoreactive CD4+ T cell response.

During the initial hours after activation, CD4(+) T cells experience profound changes in gene expression. Co-stimulation via the CD28 receptor is required for efficient activation of naive T cells. However, the transcriptional consequences of CD28 co-stimulation are not completely understood. We performed expression microarray analysis to elucidate the effects of CD28 signals on the transcriptome of activated T cells. We show that the transcription factor DEC1 is highly induced in a CD28-dependent manner upon T cell activation, is involved in essential CD4(+) effector T cell functions, and participates in the transcriptional regulation of several T cell activation pathways, including a large group of CD28-regulated genes. Antigen-specific, DEC1-deficient CD4(+) T cells have cell-intrinsic defects in survival and proliferation. Furthermore, we found that DEC1 is required for the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis because of its critical role in the production of the proinflammatory cytokines GM-CSF, IFN-γ, and IL-2. Thus, we identify DEC1 as a critical transcriptional mediator in the activation of naive CD4(+) T cells that is required for the development of a T cell-mediated autoimmune disease.

Neuropilin-1 distinguishes natural and inducible regulatory T cells among regulatory T cell subsets in vivo.

Foxp3(+) CD4(+) T helper cells called regulatory T (T reg) cells play a key role in controlling reactivity to self-antigens and onset of autoimmunity. T reg cells either arise in thymus and are called natural T reg (nT reg) cells or are generated in the periphery through induction of Foxp3 and are called inducible T reg (iT reg) cells. The relative contributions of iT reg cells and nT reg cells in peripheral tolerance remain unclear as a result of an inability to separate these two subsets of T reg cells. Using a combination of novel TCR transgenic mice with a defined self-antigen specificity and conventional mouse models, we demonstrate that a cell surface molecule, neuropilin-1 (Nrp-1), is expressed at high levels on nT reg cells and can be used to separate nT reg versus iT reg cells in certain physiological settings. In addition, iT reg cells generated through antigen delivery or converted under homeostatic conditions lack Nrp-1 expression. Nrp-1(lo) iT reg cells show similar suppressive activity to nT reg cells in controlling ongoing autoimmune responses under homeostatic conditions. In contrast, their activity might be compromised in certain lymphopenic settings. Collectively, our data show that Nrp-1 provides an excellent marker to distinguish distinct T reg subsets and will be useful in studying the role of nT reg versus iT reg cells in different disease settings.

Expression of αvß8 integrin on dendritic cells regulates Th17 cell development and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice.

Th17 cells promote a variety of autoimmune diseases, including psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. TGF-ß is required for conversion of naive T cells to Th17 cells, but the mechanisms regulating this process are unknown. Integrin αvß8 on DCs can activate TGF-ß, and this process contributes to the development of induced Tregs. Here, we have now shown that integrin αvß8 expression on DCs plays a critical role in the differentiation of Th17 cells. Th17 cells were nearly absent in the colons of mice lacking αvß8 expression on DCs. In addition, these mice and the DCs harvested from them had an impaired ability to convert naive T cells into Th17 cells in vivo and in vitro, respectively. Importantly, mice lacking αvß8 on DCs showed near-complete protection from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Our results therefore suggest that the integrin αvß8 pathway is biologically important and that αvß8 expression on DCs could be a therapeutic target for the treatment of Th17-driven autoimmune disease.

Plasticity of CD4(+) FoxP3(+) T cells.

Regulatory T (Treg) cells play an essential role in maintaining immunological tolerance. The discovery of FoxP3 as a key Treg transcription factor combined with recent advances in the development of functional reporter mice has enabled new insights into Treg biology and revealed unexpected features of this lineage. In this review, we address the stability of this population, focusing on studies that suggest that Tregs can downregulate FoxP3, lose regulatory activity and, under some conditions, become memory T cells capable of recognizing self-antigens and expressing effector cell activities including the production of IL-17 and IFNgamma. The presence of these 'exTregs' in multiple inflammatory settings suggests a potential role for these cells in a variety of disease settings ranging from autoimmunity to cancer and infectious disease.

Cutting edge: central nervous system plasmacytoid dendritic cells regulate the severity of relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) have both stimulatory and regulatory effects on T cells. pDCs are a major CNS-infiltrating dendritic cell population during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis but, unlike myeloid dendritic cells, have a minor role in T cell activation and epitope spreading. We show that depletion of pDCs during either the acute or relapse phases of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis resulted in exacerbation of disease severity. pDC depletion significantly enhanced CNS but not peripheral CD4(+) T cell activation, as well as IL-17 and IFN-gamma production. Moreover, CNS pDCs suppressed CNS myeloid dendritic cell-driven production of IL-17, IFN-gamma, and IL-10 in an IDO-independent manner. The data demonstrate that pDCs play a critical regulatory role in negatively regulating pathogenic CNS CD4(+) T cell responses, highlighting a new role for pDCs in inflammatory autoimmune disease.