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PloS one2015; 10(3); e0120661; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0120661

Regulatory T cells in early life: comparative study of CD4+CD25high T cells from foals and adult horses.

Abstract: The immune system of mammals is subject to continuous development during the postnatal phase of life. Studies following the longitudinal development of the immune system in healthy children are limited both by ethical considerations and sample volumes. Horses represent a particular valuable large animal model for T regulatory (Treg) cells and allergy research. We have recently characterised Treg cells from horses, demonstrated their regulatory capability and showed both their expansion and induction in vitro. Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is a common allergy in horses resembling atopic dermatitis and studies have shown that first exposure to allergens in adult life results in an increased incidence of IBH. The aim of the present study was to characterize circulating CD4+CD25highFoxP3+cells in foals, evaluate their suppressive capability and their in vitro induction compared to adult horses. 19 foals (age range, 1-5 months), their adult mothers and six one-year-old horses (yearlings) were included in the study. The proportion of FoxP3+ cells within the circulating CD4+CD25high population was significantly higher in foals (47%) compared to their mothers (18%) and to yearlings (26%). Treg cells from foals also displayed a higher suppressive capability. Furthermore, CD4+CD25high cells in foals could be induced in vitro from CD4+CD25- cells in a significantly higher proportion compared to mares. These cells also displayed a significantly enhanced suppressive capability. In summary these findings support the notion that exposure of horses to allergens during maturation of the immune system assists the establishment of induced (i)Treg driven tolerance.
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Publication Date: 2015-03-19 PubMed ID: 25790481PubMed Central: PMC4366079DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0120661Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article investigates the differences in T regulatory cells, which play a key part in the immune system, between foals and adult horses. The study finds that younger horses have a higher proportion of these cells and that they are more effective in suppression, indicating that early exposure to allergens may lead to built-in tolerance later in life.

Introduction and Objectives

  • The researchers aimed to understand how the immune system development varies between foals and adult horses. The focus was on Treg cells – these are a type of immune cell that control the body’s immune response to prevent allergic reactions and autoimmune diseases.
  • Researchers were motivated by the lack of longitudinal studies in immune system development, particularly in the context of allergies, due to ethical and sample volume constraints in human studies. Thus, they decided to use horses as a model for this research.

Methodology

  • The study categorized the participants into three groups: foals (ages 1-5 months), their adult mothers, and one-year-old horses (yearlings). They analyzed blood samples from all participants to characterize the population of Treg cells (specifically CD4+CD25highFoxP3+) and their capabilities.
  • The researchers also conducted in vitro experiments to evaluate how many Treg cells could be induced from CD4+CD25- precursor cells in both foals and adult horses.

Findings

  • The study found that foals had a significantly higher proportion of FoxP3+ cells (a subtype of Treg cells) in their blood compared to adult horses and yearlings. These Treg cells also exhibited more potent suppressive abilities.
  • In addition, researchers found that Treg cells could be more readily induced in vitro from the CD4+CD25- precursor cells in foals than the cells in adult horses. The induced Treg cells in foals also showed enhanced suppressive abilities.

Conclusions

  • Findings support the idea that early exposure to allergens helps in promoting immune tolerance in horses by favouring the development and effectiveness of Treg cells.
  • This research can potentially lead to important insights into immunology and allergy development, and could guide the development of preventive measures and treatments for allergies in not just equine subjects, but potentially also in humans.

Cite This Article

APA
Hamza E, Mirkovitch J, Steinbach F, Marti E. (2015). Regulatory T cells in early life: comparative study of CD4+CD25high T cells from foals and adult horses. PLoS One, 10(3), e0120661. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0120661

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 3
Pages: e0120661
PII: e0120661

Researcher Affiliations

Hamza, Eman
  • Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Mirkovitch, Jelena
  • Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Steinbach, Falko
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom.
Marti, Eliane
  • Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • CD4 Antigens / metabolism
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Horses
  • Hypersensitivity / immunology
  • Hypersensitivity / pathology
  • Interleukin-10 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / metabolism
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / cytology
  • Male
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism
  • Time Factors

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
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  2. Keller LE, Tait Wojno ED, Begum L, Fortier LA. Interleukin-6 neutralization and regulatory T cells are additive in chondroprotection from IL-1β-induced inflammation. J Orthop Res 2023 May;41(5):942-950.
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