Rapamycin promotes differentiation and proliferation of mouse CD4 +CD25+ regulatory T cells in vitro / 第二军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective: To observe the influence of rapamycin on the differentiation and proliferation of CD4+ CD25+ Treg cells, so as to lay a foundation for further studying its role in inducing immune tolerance. Methods: The spleens were taken from C57BL/6 mice under sterile condition and the mononuclear cells were isolated. CD4+ T cells were isolated by immunomagnetic beads (negative) and were divide into normal control group, rapamycin (0.1 μmol/L, for 7 days) group and cyclosporine (0.5 μmol/L, for 7 days) group. Flow cytometry was used to determine the proportions of CD4 +CD25+ Treg cells, and RT-PCR was used to examine the expression of Foxp3 mRNA. Results: Compared with the control group, the proportion of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells in the CD4+ T cells was significantly decreased ([7.42±0.82]% vs [3.72±0.74]%, P<0.01) in the cyclosporine group and was significantly increased ([7.42±0.82]% vs [11.47±1.08]%, P<0.01) in the rapamycin group. Expression of Foxp3 mRNA in rapamycin group was significantly higher than that in the other 2 groups (P<0.01), expression of Foxp3 mRNA in the cyclosporine group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Rapamycin can promote the proliferation and growth of CD4 + CD25+ Foxp3+ Treg cells in vitro, and facilitate the development of immune tolerance. It has a different immune suppression mechanism with cyclosporine A.