[HTML][HTML] A comparison of ex vivo expanded human regulatory T cells using allogeneic stimulated B cells or monocyte-derived dendritic cells

LM Lee, H Zhang, K Lee, H Liang, A Merleev… - Frontiers in …, 2021 - frontiersin.org
LM Lee, H Zhang, K Lee, H Liang, A Merleev, F Vincenti, E Maverakis, AW Thomson, Q Tang
Frontiers in Immunology, 2021frontiersin.org
Alloreactive regulatory T cells (arTregs) are more potent than polyclonal Tregs at
suppressing immune responses to transplant antigens. Human arTregs can be expanded
with allogeneic CD40L-stimulated B cells (sBcs) or stimulated-matured monocyte-derived
dendritic cells (sDCs). Here, we compared the expansion efficiency and properties of
arTregs stimulated ex vivo using these two types of antigen-presenting cells. Compared to
sBcs, sDCs stimulated Tregs to expand two times more in number. The superior expansion …
Alloreactive regulatory T cells (arTregs) are more potent than polyclonal Tregs at suppressing immune responses to transplant antigens. Human arTregs can be expanded with allogeneic CD40L-stimulated B cells (sBcs) or stimulated-matured monocyte-derived dendritic cells (sDCs). Here, we compared the expansion efficiency and properties of arTregs stimulated ex vivo using these two types of antigen-presenting cells. Compared to sBcs, sDCs stimulated Tregs to expand two times more in number. The superior expansion-inducing capacity of sDCs correlated with their higher expression of CD80, CD86, and T cell-attracting chemokines. sBc- and sDC-arTregs expressed comparable levels of FOXP3, HELIOS, CD25, CD27, and CD62L, demethylated FOXP3 enhancer and in vitro suppressive function. sBc- and sDCs-arTregs had similar gene expression profiles that were distinct from primary Tregs. sBc- and sDC-arTregs exhibited similar low frequencies of IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-17A-producing cells, and the cytokine-producing arTregs expressed high levels of FOXP3. Almost all sBc- and sDC-arTregs expressed CXCR3, which may enable them traffic to inflammatory sites. Thus, sDCs-arTregs that expand more readily, are phenotypically similar to sBc-arTregs, supporting sDCs as a viable alternative for arTreg production for clinical evaluation.
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