An MHC-linked locus modulates thymic differentiation of CD4 CD25 Foxp3 regulatory T lymphocytes

Abstract

CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T lymphocytes are crucial for maintenance of immunological tolerance to self and innocuous non-self, are known to modulate immunity to tumors and infectious agents and can induce transplantation tolerance. Surprisingly, only a single genetic polymorphism is known to modulate regulatory T cell (Treg) development in the thymus, leading to a lethal autoimmune disorder. Here, we show that considerably different levels of Tregs are found in the thymi of distinct common laboratory mouse strains. We demonstrate that distinct levels of phenotypically and functionally identical Tregs develop with similar kinetics in the studied mice, that the responsible locus acts in a thy..