Generation of Helios reporter mice and an evaluation of the suppressive capacity of Helios+ regulatory T cells in vitro. Issue 7 (4th May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sugita, Kazunari; Hanakawa, Sho; Honda, Tetsuya; Kondoh, Gen; Miyachi, Yoshiki; Kabashima, Kenji; Nomura, Takashi
• Is Part Of: Experimental dermatology. Volume 24:Issue 7(2015:Jul.)
• Page Start: 554
• Page End: 556
• Publication Date: 2015-05-04
• Subjects: Dermatology -- Periodicals; 616.5
• DOI: 10.1111/exd.12711
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0906-6705

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="exd12711-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Helios is a member of the Ikaros transcription factor family and has been reported to be a marker of thymus‐derived regulatory T cells (Treg). Helios is an intracellular protein, however, and hence cannot be used as a marker to separate living Tregs. To solve this problem, we generated Helios reporter mice in which Helios+ cells selectively express Venus, a variant of green fluorescent protein. Most of the Tregs in the thymus expressed Helios, whereas its expression was varied in peripheral lymphoid organs. The Helios+ Treg‐population was superior in ability to suppress both antigen‐specific and TCR‐stimulated T cell responses. We also showed that Helios+ Tregs inhibited the cytokine production by T cells more efficiently than Helios‐ Tregs. We conclude that Helios reporter mouse strain is a useful tool to study function of Helios and that Helios+ Tregs represent the highly suppressive population.</p> </abstract>