Induction of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+regulatory T cell response by glatiramer acetate in type 1 diabetes

• 来源期刊: 细胞研究（英文版）
• 年，卷（期）: 2009,（5）
• 页码范围: 574-583
• 页数: 10页
• 语种: 英文
• DOI: 10.1038/cr.2009.12

摘要

Glatiramer acetate (GA) is an immunomodulatory peptide drug used to treat multiple sclerosis. Its treatment ef-fect has been expanded to other autoimmune conditions such as uveoretinitis, inflammatory bowel disease, graft re-jection and hepatic fibrosis. Here, we report that GA was effective in altering the clinical course of diabetes in cyclo-phosphamide (CY)-potentiated non-obese diabetic (CY-NOD) mice. Treatment with GA significantly reduced the dia-betic rate in the mice and ameliorated insulitis, which coincided with increased CD4+CD25+Foxp3+T cell response in treated mice. GA treatment led to increased expression of transcription factor Foxp3 and elevated production of interleukin-4 (IL-4) both in vivo and in vitro. It was evident that the effect of GA on up-regulation of Foxp3 was me-diated partially through IL-4. IL-4 was found to maintain Foxp3 expression and regulatory function of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs). This study provides new evidence that GA has treatment potential for type 1 diabetes through the induction of Tregs and that increased IL-4 production is partially responsible for the enhanced Treg's function in GA treatment.