Helios defines T cells being driven to tolerance in the periphery and thymus

Abstract

The expression of the Ikaros transcription factor family member, Helios, has been shown to be associated with T-cell tolerance in both the thymus and the periphery. To better understand the importance of Helios in tolerance pathways, we have examined the expression of Helios in TCR-transgenic T cells specific for the gastric H+/K+ ATPase, the autoantigen target in autoimmune gastritis. Analysis of H+/K+ ATPase-specific T cells in mice with different patterns of H+/K+ ATPase expression revealed that, in addition to the expression of Helios in CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells, Helios is expressed by a large proportion of CD4+Foxp3- T cells in both the thymus and the paragastric lymph node ..