SHIP limits immunoregulatory capacity in the T-cell compartment

Blood. 2009 Mar 26;113(13):2934-44. doi: 10.1182/blood-2008-09-181164. Epub 2009 Jan 9.

Abstract

Regulatory T cells (T(regs)) play a pivotal role in preventing autoimmunity, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and organ graft rejection. We previously showed that either germline or induced SH2 domain-containing inositol 5-phosphatase (SHIP) deficiency in the host abrogates GVHD. Here we show that SHIP deficiency promotes an increase of CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) T(regs) and CD4(+)CD25(-)FoxP3(+)"naive" T cells in the periphery that display increased CD103, glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor-related protein (GITR), OX40, and FcgammaRII/III expression. SHIP deficiency does not compromise T(reg) function because SHIP-deficient CD3(+)CD4(+)CD25(+) T(regs) are as suppressive as wild-type (WT) CD3(+)CD4(+)CD25(+) T(reg). Interestingly, like conventional T(regs), SHIP(-/-) CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells are unresponsive to major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-mismatched stimulators and suppress allogeneic responses by T cells in vitro. In addition, SHIP(-/-) CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells mediate reduced lethal GVHD on adoptive transfer to MHC-mismatched hosts. Furthermore, hosts with induced SHIP deficiency exhibit delayed rejection of MHC-mismatched cardiac grafts. Thus, SHIP is required for robust graft-versus-host and host-versus-graft responses by CD4(+) T cell and limits their immunoregulatory capacity. These findings further define the immunosuppressive mechanisms that result from SHIP deficiency and provide additional justification for targeting SHIP in clinical transplantation.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer
  • Animals
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / transplantation
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Graft vs Host Disease / genetics
  • Graft vs Host Disease / immunology
  • Graft vs Host Disease / prevention & control
  • Immune Tolerance / genetics
  • Immune Tolerance / immunology
  • Inositol Polyphosphate 5-Phosphatases
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Activation / genetics*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, SCID
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / genetics
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / metabolism
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / physiology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / transplantation
  • Transplantation, Homologous

Substances

  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxp3 protein, mouse
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases
  • Inositol Polyphosphate 5-Phosphatases