Regulatory CD4 + T cells redirected against pathogenic CD8 + T cells protect NOD mice from development of autoimmune diabetes

Kakabadse, Dimitri, Chen, Dawei, Fishman, Sigal, Weinstein-Marom, Hadas, Davies, Joanne, Wen, Li, Gross, Gideon and Wong, F. Susan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2812-8845 2024. Regulatory CD4 + T cells redirected against pathogenic CD8 + T cells protect NOD mice from development of autoimmune diabetes. Frontiers in Immunology 15 , 1463971. 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1463971

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Abstract

Introduction: In this study, we report a novel therapeutic approach redirecting antigen-specific CD4+ T cells recognizing a hybrid insulin peptide (BDC2.5 T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic CD4+ T cells) to attract and suppress islet-specific CD8+ T cells T cells in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse model, and prevent the development of autoimmune diabetes. Methods: Purified BDC2.5 CD4+ T cells were induced to differentiate into regulatory T cells (Tregs). The Tregs were then electroporated with mRNA encoding chimeric human β2 microglobulin (hβ2m) covalently linked to insulin B chain amino acids 15-23 (designated INS-eTreg) or islet-specific glucose-6-phosphatase related protein (IGRP) peptide 206-214 (designated IGRP-eTreg). Immunoregulatory functions of these engineered regulatory T cells (eTregs) were tested by in vitro assays and in vivo co-transfer experiments with β-cell-antigen-specific CD8+ T cells in NOD.Scid mice or by adoptive transfer into young, pre-diabetic NOD mice. Results: These eTregs were phenotyped by flow cytometry, and shown to have high expression of FoxP3, as well as other markers of Treg function, including IL-10. They suppressed polyclonal CD4+ T cells and antigen-specific CD8+ T cells (recognizing insulin or IGRP), decreasing proliferation and increasing exhaustion and regulatory markers in vitro. In vivo, eTregs reduced diabetes development in co-transfer experiments with pathogenic antigen-specific CD8+ T cells (INS-CD8+ or IGRP-CD8+ cells) into NOD.Scid mice. Finally, when the eTreg were injected into young NOD mice, they reduced insulitis and prevented spontaneous diabetes in the recipient mice. Conclusion: Our results suggest a novel therapeutic strategy to protect NOD mice by targeting antigen-specific cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, using redirected antigen-specific CD4+ Treg cells, to suppress autoimmune diabetes. This may suggest an innovative therapy for protection of people at risk of development of type 1 diabetes.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Medicine
Additional Information:	License information from Publisher: LICENSE 1: URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Publisher:	Frontiers Media
Funders:	MRC
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	4 October 2024
Date of Acceptance:	20 August 2024
Last Modified:	15 Oct 2024 14:44
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/172597

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