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HCV-Infected Hepatocytes Drive CD4<sup>+</sup>CD25<sup>+</sup>Foxp3<sup>+</sup> Regulatory T-cell Development Through the Tim-3/Gal-9 Pathway

HCV is remarkable at disrupting human immunity to establish chronic infection. The accumulation of Treg cells at the site of infection and upregulation of inhibitory signaling pathways (such as T-cell Ig and mucin domain protein-3 (Tim-3) and galectin-9 (Gal-9)) play pivotal roles in suppressing antiviral effector T (Teff) cells that are essential for viral clearance. While Tim-3/Gal-9 interactions have been shown to negatively regulate Teff cells, their role in regulating Treg cells is poorly understood. To explore how Tim-3/Gal-9 interactions regulate HCV-mediated Treg-cell development, here we provide pilot data showing that HCV-infected human hepatocytes express higher levels of Gal-9 and TGF-β, and upregulate Tim-3 expression and regulatory cytokines TGF-β/IL-10 in co-cultured human CD4+ T cells, driving conventional CD4+ T cells into CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cells. Additionally, recombinant Gal-9 protein can transform TCR-activated CD4+ T cells into Foxp3+ Treg cells in a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, blocking Tim-3/Gal-9 ligations abrogates HCV-mediated Treg-cell induction by HCV-infected hepatocytes, suggesting that Tim-3/Gal-9 interactions may regulate human Foxp3+ Treg-cell development and function during HCV infection.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:ETSU/oai:dc.etsu.edu:etsu-works-15593
Date01 February 2013
CreatorsJi, Xiao J., Ma, Cheng J., Wang, Jia M., Wu, Xiao Y., Niki, Toshiro, Hirashima, Mitsumi, Moorman, Jonathan P., Yao, Zhi Q.
PublisherDigital Commons @ East Tennessee State University
Source SetsEast Tennessee State University
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typetext
SourceETSU Faculty Works

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