Association between development of CD4~+CD25~+ regulatory T cells and thymus CD4~-CD25~+ cells

AIM: To explore the correlation between development of CD4~+CD25~+ regulatory T cells (CD4~+CD25~+ Tr) and thymus CD4~-CD25~+ cells. METHODS: The ratios of CD4~+CD25~+ regulatory T cells to CD4~+ T cells in thymus, spleen, lymph node and peripheral blood of mice from birth to mature and also the ratios of CD4~-CD25~+cells to CD4~-T cells in thymus were measured by flow cytometry. Purified CD4~+CD25~+ T cells and CD4~+CD25~- T cells were labeled with CFDA-SE, and then stimulated with various kinds of stimulators. RESULTS: The percentages of CD4~+CD25~+ Tr in mouse spleen, lymph nodes and peripheral blood increased gradually, but not in thymus, from day one to week 10 of the age with rapid rising from day one to week 1. The percentages of CD4~-CD25~+ cells in mouse thymus were quite high on day one after birth, and decreased rapidly from day one to week 1. Both CD4~+CD25~+ Tr and CD4~+CD25~- T cells showed no proliferation in response to ConA, while CD4~+CD25~+ Tr showed a transient enlargement of cell size. Both CD4~+CD25~+ Tr and CD4~+CD25~- T cells underwent proliferation in response to PDB plus ionomycin. CD4~+CD25~- T cells, but not CD4~+CD25~+ Tr, showed a proliferative response to the stimulation of coated anti-CD3 plus soluble anti-CD28 antibody, however, CD4~+CD25~+ Tr showed significant proliferation and CD4~+CD25~- T cells showed a stronger response in addition of high dose of IL-2. CONCLUSION: The thymus CD4~-CD25~+ cells are probably the precursor of CD4~+CD25~+ Tr during cell development.