Tissue-restricted control of established central nervous system autoimmunity by TNF receptor 2-expressing Treg cells

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 Mar 30;118(13):e2014043118. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2014043118.

Abstract

CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells are central modulators of autoimmune diseases. However, the timing and location of Treg cell-mediated suppression of tissue-specific autoimmunity remain undefined. Here, we addressed these questions by investigating the role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor 2 (TNFR2) signaling in Treg cells during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model of multiple sclerosis. We found that TNFR2-expressing Treg cells were critical to suppress EAE at peak disease in the central nervous system but had no impact on T cell priming in lymphoid tissues at disease onset. Mechanistically, TNFR2 signaling maintained functional Treg cells with sustained expression of CTLA-4 and Blimp-1, allowing active suppression of pathogenic T cells in the inflamed central nervous system. This late effect of Treg cells was further confirmed by treating mice with TNF and TNFR2 agonists and antagonists. Our findings show that endogenous Treg cells specifically suppress an autoimmune disease by acting in the target tissue during overt inflammation. Moreover, they bring a mechanistic insight to some of the adverse effects of anti-TNF therapy in patients.

Keywords: TNF; Treg cells; autoimmune diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow / pathology
  • CTLA-4 Antigen / metabolism
  • Central Nervous System / immunology
  • Central Nervous System / pathology
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / drug therapy
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / immunology*
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / pathology
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Multiple Sclerosis / drug therapy
  • Multiple Sclerosis / immunology*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / pathology
  • Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1 / metabolism
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II / agonists
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II / genetics
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism

Substances

  • CTLA-4 Antigen
  • Ctla4 protein, mouse
  • Prdm1 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II
  • Tnfrsf1b protein, mouse
  • Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1