Adaptive Foxp3⁺ Regulatory T Cell-Dependent and -Independent Control of Allergic Inflammation

Adaptive Foxp3⁺ regulatory T (Treg) cells develop during induction of mucosal tolerance and after immunization. Large numbers of Foxp3⁺ T cells have been found in inflamed tissues. We investigated the role of adaptive Foxp3⁺ Treg cells in mucosal tolerance and in chronic allergic lung inflammation. We used two strains of mice that are devoid of naturally occurring Treg cells; one is capable of generating adaptive Foxp3⁺ Treg cells upon exposure to antigen, whereas the other is deficient in both naturally occurring and adaptive Foxp3⁺ Treg cells. We found that adaptive Foxp3⁺ Treg cells were essential for establishing mucosal tolerance and for suppressing IL-4 production and lymphoid neogenesis in chronic inflammation, whereas IL-5 production and eosinophilia could be controlled by Foxp3-independent, IFN-γ-dependent mechanisms. Thus, whereas adaptive Foxp3⁺ Treg cells regulate sensitization to allergens and the severity of chronic inflammation, IFN-γ-producing cells can play a beneficial role in inflammatory conditions involving eosinophils.