Defective inhibition of B-cell proliferation by Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein-deficient regulatory T cells

M Adriani, KA Jones, T Uchiyama… - Blood, The Journal …, 2011 - ashpublications.org
M Adriani, KA Jones, T Uchiyama, MR Kirby, C Silvin, SM Anderson, F Candotti
Blood, The Journal of the American Society of Hematology, 2011ashpublications.org
Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is an inherited immunodeficiency characterized by high
incidence of autoantibody-mediated autoimmune complications. Such a feature has been
associated with defective suppressor activity of WAS protein-deficient, naturally occurring
CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells on responder T cells. However, it remains to be
established whether the altered B-cell tolerance reported in WAS patients and Was knockout
(WKO) mice is secondary to abnormalities in the direct suppression of B-cell function by …
Abstract
Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is an inherited immunodeficiency characterized by high incidence of autoantibody-mediated autoimmune complications. Such a feature has been associated with defective suppressor activity of WAS protein-deficient, naturally occurring CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells on responder T cells. However, it remains to be established whether the altered B-cell tolerance reported in WAS patients and Was knockout (WKO) mice is secondary to abnormalities in the direct suppression of B-cell function by nTreg cells or to impaired regulation of T-helper function. Because activated nTreg cells are known to induce granzyme B–mediated B-cell killing, we decided to evaluate the regulatory capabilities of WKO nTregs on B lymphocytes. We found that preactivated WKO nTreg cells failed to effectively suppress B-cell proliferation and that such a defect was associated with reduced killing of B cells and significantly decreased degranulation of granzyme B. Altogether, these results provide additional mechanistic insights into the loss of immune tolerance in WAS.
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