Laboratory-Grown T-Regulatory Cells Aid Autoimmune Studies

Researchers have discovered an in vitro way to grow human T-regulatory cells type 1 (Tr1). These cells will aid research into new treatments for autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis and for organ rejection following transplantation, and could also provide a better understanding of how the body responds to infectious diseases. The research was reported in the January 23, 2003, issue of Nature.

T-regulatory cells type 1 (Tr1) are thought to prevent unnecessary immune reactions and to block the action of immune cells that otherwise would attack the body and cause dangerous inflammation. "T-regulator cells have become an important area of immunology,” explained senior author Dr. John P. Atkinson, professor of medicine and molecular microbiology at Washington University School of Medicine (St. Louis, MO, USA; www.wustl.edu). "But no one has known how to grow them in the laboratory. These findings will let that promising research move forward.”

Utilizing findings from previous research involving the protein CD46, the investigators were able to grow Tr1 cells in culture dishes, drawing off some of the fluid and adding it to other dishes containing activated proliferating infection-fighting T-cells. The fluid, which contained interleukin-10 (IL-10) produced by the Tr1 cells, shut down the activity of the T-cells.

The investigators next want to study how CD46 triggered production of IL-10 and to better define the population of cells that give rise to Tr1 cells.



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