Increased expression of Foxp3 in splenic CD8+ T cells frommice with anterior chamber-associated immune deviation

摘要

Purpose: To examine the expression of Foxp3 on CD8+ T cells inthe spleen during anterior chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID).Methods: Ovalbumin (OVA) was injected into the anterior chamber (AC)of C57BL/6 mice, and the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responsewas measured to evaluate the development of ACAID. The suppressiveeffect of CD8+ T cells in ACAID mice was determined by a localadoptive transfer (LAT) assay. Flow cytometry was used to assay thefrequency of CD8+Foxp3+ T cells from normal mice, ACAIDmice, and control mice receiving an AC injection of PBS (PBS-AC-injectedmice). These frequencies were also tested after polyclonal or specificantigen stimulation. The mRNA level of Foxp3 in CD8+ splenocytesfrom different groups with or without stimulation were determined byreverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.Results: OVA injection into the AC induced ACAID, and CD8+ Tcells from ACAID mice inhibited the ear-swelling response by OVA-primedresponder cells in LAT assay. Flow cytometry analysis showed that thefrequency of CD8+Foxp3+ cells in splenocytes was upregulatedin ACAID mice following polyclonal or specific antigen stimulation.Foxp3 mRNA was only detected in CD8+ T cells from ACAID mice afterpolyclonal stimulation.Conclusions: An upregulated Foxp3 expression in CD8+ T cellsis associated with the development of ACAID, suggesting an involvementof CD8+Foxp3+ T cells in this model of immune tolerance.