CD4 CD25 regulatory T cells inhibit the antigen-dependent expansion of self-reactive T cells in vivo

Abstract

A deficiency of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (CD25+ Tregs) in lymphopenic mice can result in the onset of autoimmune gastritis. The gastric H/K ATPase α (H/Kα) and β (H/Kβ) subunits are the immunodominant autoantigens recognized by effector CD4+ T cells in autoimmune gastritis. The mechanism by which CD25+ Tregs suppress autoimmune gastritis in lymphopenic mice is poorly understood. To investigate the antigenic requirements for the genesis and survival of gastritis-protecting CD25+ Tregs, we analyzed mice deficient in H/Kβ and H/Kα, as well as a transgenic mouse line (H/Kβ-tsA58 Tg line 224) that lacks differentiated gastric epithelial cells. By adoptive transfer of purified T cell populatio..