Regulatory mechanisms involving CD8+ T cells (CD8 regulatory T cells (Tregs)) are important in the maintenance of immune homeostasis. However, the inability to generate functional CD8 Treg clones with defined Ag specificity has precluded a direct demonstration of CD8 Treg-mediated regulation. In the present study, we describe the isolation of functional lines and clones representing a novel population of TCRαβ+ Tregs that control activated Vβ8.2+ CD4 T cells mediating experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. They express exclusively the CD8αα homodimer and recognize a peptide from a conserved region of the TCR Vβ8.2 chain in the context of the Qa-1a (CD8αα Tregs). They secrete type 1 cytokines but not IL-2. CD8αα Tregs kill activated Vβ8.2+ but not Vβ8.2− or naive T cells. The CD8αα Tregs prevent autoimmunity upon adoptive transfer or following in vivo activation. These findings reveal an important negative feedback regulatory mechanism targeting activated T cells and have implications in the development of therapeutic strategies for autoimmune diseases and transplantation.
CITATION STYLE
Tang, X., Maricic, I., Purohit, N., Bakamjian, B., Reed-Loisel, L. M., Beeston, T., … Kumar, V. (2006). Regulation of Immunity by a Novel Population of Qa-1-Restricted CD8αα+TCRαβ+ T Cells. The Journal of Immunology, 177(11), 7645–7655. https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.177.11.7645
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