Interferon-β promotes the survival and function of induced regulatory T cells

• Published in: Cytokine (Philadelphia, Pa.) Vol. 158; p. 156009
• Main Authors: Nishiyama, Nanako, Nakahashi-Oda, Chigusa, Shibuya, Akira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2022
• Subjects: IFN-β; Inducible regulatory T cells; Type-I interferon; Inducible regulatory T cells; Type-I interferon; IFN-β
• ISSN: 1043-4666; 1096-0023
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2022.156009

•IFN-β suppresses the proliferation of induced Foxp3+ T cells.•IFN-β promotes the expression of anti-apoptotic genes during the induction of regulatory T cells.•IFN-β modulates the function of induced regulatory T cells. Type I interferons (IFNs) are pleiotropic cytokines and impact various immune cells, including regulatory T cells (Treg cells). The effect of type-I IFNs on the development and function of Treg cells is quite controversial. Here we induced Treg cells (iTreg cells) from naïve CD4+ T cells in vitro in the presence or absence of IFN-β to elucidate its direct effect on the induction of iTreg cells. We found that IFN-β suppressed the proliferation of iTreg cells but enhanced their expression of anti-apoptotic genes Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 during the development of iTreg cells. We also found that IFN-β promoted suppression of conventional T cell proliferation by iTreg cells. These results suggest that IFN-β promotes the survival and immunomodulatory function of iTreg cells.