The Discovery of Chicken Foxp3 Demands Redefinition of Avian Regulatory T Cells
Language English Country United States Media print-electronic
Document type Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PubMed
35173035
DOI
10.4049/jimmunol.2000301
PII: jimmunol.2000301
Knihovny.cz E-resources
- MeSH
- Lymphocyte Activation immunology MeSH
- Cell Differentiation immunology MeSH
- Forkhead Transcription Factors genetics MeSH
- Genome genetics MeSH
- Chickens genetics immunology MeSH
- Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit metabolism MeSH
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory immunology MeSH
- Amino Acid Sequence genetics MeSH
- Base Sequence MeSH
- Sequence Analysis, DNA MeSH
- Sequence Homology MeSH
- Sequence Alignment MeSH
- Gene Expression Profiling MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Forkhead Transcription Factors MeSH
- Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit MeSH
Since the publication of the first chicken genome sequence, we have encountered genes playing key roles in mammalian immunology, but being seemingly absent in birds. One of those was, until recently, Foxp3, the master transcription factor of regulatory T cells in mammals. Therefore, avian regulatory T cell research is still poorly standardized. In this study we identify a chicken ortholog of Foxp3 We prove sequence homology with known mammalian and sauropsid sequences, but also reveal differences in major domains. Expression profiling shows an association of Foxp3 and CD25 expression levels in CD4+CD25+ peripheral T cells and identifies a CD4-CD25+Foxp3high subset of thymic lymphocytes that likely represents yet undescribed avian regulatory T precursor cells. We conclude that Foxp3 is existent in chickens and that it shares certain functional characteristics with its mammalian ortholog. Nevertheless, pathways for regulatory T cell development and Foxp3 function are likely to differ between mammals and birds. The identification and characterization of chicken Foxp3 will help to define avian regulatory T cells and to analyze their functional properties and thereby advance the field of avian immunology.
Department for Veterinary Sciences Ludwig Maximilians Universität Munich Munich Germany
Department for Veterinary Sciences Ludwig Maximilians Universität Munich Munich Germany;
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