Paradoxically increased FOXP3+ T cells in IBD do not preferentially express the isoform of FOXP3 lacking exon 2

Dig Dis Sci. 2012 Nov;57(11):2846-55. doi: 10.1007/s10620-012-2292-3. Epub 2012 Jun 27.

Abstract

Background: Forkhead box P3 (FOXP3)+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are critical for controlling inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. There is a paradoxical increase of mucosal FOXP3+ T cells in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). These FOXP3+ cells were recently shown to include interleukin (IL)-17A-producing cells in Crohn's disease, resembling Th17 cells implicated in autoimmune diseases. FOXP3 inhibits IL-17A production, but a naturally occurring splice variant of FOXP3 lacking exon 2 (Δexon2) cannot.

Aims: We hypothesized that IBD patients preferentially express the Δexon2 variant of FOXP3 so the paradoxically increased mucosal Tregs in IBD could represent cells expressing only Δexon2.

Methods: We used antibodies and primers that can distinguish between the full-length and Δexon2 splice variant of FOXP3 to evaluate expression of these isoforms in human intestinal tissue by immunohistochemistry and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), respectively.

Results: No difference in the expression pattern of Δexon2 relative to full-length FOXP3 was seen in ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease versus non-IBD controls. By immunofluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry, we also did not find individual cells which expressed FOXP3 protein exclusively in the Δexon2 isoform in either IBD or control tissue. FOXP3+ mucosal CD4+ T cells from both IBD and control specimens were able to make IL-17A in vitro after phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and ionomycin stimulation, but these cells did not preferentially express Δexon2.

Conclusions: Our data do not support the hypothesis that selective expression of FOXP3 in the Δexon2 isoform accounts for the inability of copious FOXP3+ T cells to inhibit inflammation or IL-17 expression in IBD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Biopsy
  • Exons
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / immunology
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / immunology
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / metabolism*
  • Interleukin-17 / metabolism*
  • Intestinal Mucosa / immunology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism*
  • Th17 Cells / immunology
  • Th17 Cells / metabolism

Substances

  • FOXP3 protein, human
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Interleukin-17