Release of active TGF-β1 from the latent TGF-β1/GARP complex on T regulatory cells is mediated by integrin β8

J Immunol. 2014 Sep 15;193(6):2843-9. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1401102. Epub 2014 Aug 15.

Abstract

Activated T regulatory cells (Tregs) express latent TGF-β1 on their cell surface bound to GARP. Although integrins have been implicated in mediating the release of active TGF-β1 from the complex of latent TGF-β1 and latent TGF-β1 binding protein, their role in processing latent TGF-β1 from the latent TGF-β1/GARP complex is unclear. Mouse CD4(+)Foxp3(+) Treg, but not CD4(+)Foxp3(-) T cells, expressed integrin β8 (Itgb8) as detected by quantitative RT-PCR. Itgb8 expression was a marker of thymically derived (t)Treg, because it could not be detected on Foxp3(+)Helios(-) Tregs or on Foxp3(+) T cells induced in vitro. Tregs from Itgb8 conditional knockouts exhibited normal suppressor function in vitro and in vivo in a model of colitis but failed to provide TGF-β1 to drive Th17 or induced Treg differentiation in vitro. In addition, Itgb8 knockout Tregs expressed higher levels of latent TGF-β1 on their cell surface consistent with defective processing. Thus, integrin αvβ8 is a marker of tTregs and functions in a cell intrinsic manner in mediating the processing of latent TGF-β1 from the latent TGF-β1/GARP complex on the surface of tTregs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology
  • Colitis / immunology
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / biosynthesis
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Integrin beta Chains / biosynthesis
  • Integrin beta Chains / genetics
  • Integrin beta Chains / immunology*
  • Integrins / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Membrane Proteins / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • Th17 Cells / immunology
  • Transcription Factors / biosynthesis
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / biosynthesis
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / immunology
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxp3 protein, mouse
  • Integrin beta Chains
  • Integrins
  • Lrrc32 protein, mouse
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Zfpn1a2 protein, mouse
  • integrin alphavbeta8
  • integrin beta8
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins