1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (vitamin D3) catalyzes suppressive activity on human natural regulatory T cells, uniquely modulates cell cycle progression, and augments FOXP3.

ABSTRACT: Human natural regulatory T cells (nTregs) show great promise for therapeutically modulating immune-mediated disease, but remain poorly understood. One explanation under intense scrutiny is how to induce suppressive function in non-nTregs and increase the size of the regulatory population. A second possibility would be to make existing nTregs more effective, like a catalyst raises the specific activity of an enzyme. The latter has been difficult to investigate due to the lack of a robust short-term suppression assay. Using a microassay described herein we demonstrate that nTregs in distinct phases of cell cycle progression exhibit graded degrees of potency. Moreover, we show that physiological concentrations of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (vitamin D3) boosts nTregs function. The enhanced supp

SUBMITTER: Morales-Tirado V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3073680 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature