TCF1 and LEF1 Control Treg Competitive Survival and Tfr Development to Prevent Autoimmune Diseases

Publication date: 18 June 2019Source: Cell Reports, Volume 27, Issue 12Author(s): Bi-Huei Yang, Ke Wang, Shuo Wan, Yan Liang, Xiaomei Yuan, Yi Dong, Sunglim Cho, Wanqing Xu, Kristen Jepsen, Gen-Sheng Feng, Li-Fan Lu, Hai-Hui Xue, Wenxian FuSummaryCD4+ Foxp3+ T regulatory (Treg) cells are key players in preventing lethal autoimmunity. Tregs undertake differentiation processes and acquire diverse functional properties. However, how Treg’s differentiation and functional specification are regulated remains incompletely understood. Here, we report that gradient expression of TCF1 and LEF1 distinguishes Tregs into three distinct subpopulations, particularly highlighting a subset of activated Treg (aTreg) cells. Treg-specific ablation of TCF1 and LEF1 renders the mice susceptible to systemic autoimmunity. TCF1 and LEF1 are dispensable for Treg’s suppressive capacity but essential for maintaining a normal aTreg pool and promoting Treg’s competitive survival. As a consequence, the development of T follicular regulatory (Tfr) cells, which are a subset of aTreg, is abolished in TCF1/LEF1-conditional knockout mice, leading to unrestrained T follicular helper (Tfh) and germinal center B cell responses. Thus, TCF1 and LEF1 act redundantly to control the maintenance and functional specification of Treg subsets to prevent autoimmunity.Graphical Abstract
Source: Cell Reports - Category: Cytology Source Type: research