A combination of cyclophosphamide and interleukin-2 allows CD4+ T cells converted to Tregs to control scurfy syndrome.

Delville M, Bellier F, Leon J, Klifa R, Lizot S, Vinçon H, Sobrino S, Thouenon R, Marchal A, Garrigue A, Olivré J, Charbonnier S, Lagresle-Peyrou C, Amendola M, Schambach A, Gross D, Lamarthée B, Benoist C, Zuber J, André I, Cavazzana M, Six E.

Source : Blood

2021 Apr 29

Pmid / DOI: 33545713

Abstract

Immunodysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked (IPEX) syndrome is caused by mutations in forkhead box P3 (FOXP3), which lead to the loss of function of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and the development of autoimmune manifestations early in life. The selective induction of a Treg program in autologous CD4+ T cells by FOXP3 gene transfer is a promising approach for curing IPEX. We have established a novel in vivo assay of Treg functionality, based on adoptive transfer of these cells into scurfy mice (an animal model of IPEX) and a combination of cyclophosphamide (Cy) conditioning and interleukin-2 (IL-2) treatment. This model highlighted the possibility of rescuing scurfy disease after the latter's onset. By using this in vivo model and an optimized lentiviral vector expressing human Foxp3 and, as a reporter, a truncated form of the low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor (ΔLNGFR), we demonstrated that the adoptive transfer of FOXP3-transduced scurfy CD4+ T cells enabled the long-term rescue of scurfy autoimmune disease. The efficiency was similar to that seen with wild-type Tregs. After in vivo expansion, the converted CD4FOXP3 cells recapitulated the transcriptomic core signature for Tregs. These findings demonstrate that FOXP3 expression converts CD4+ T cells into functional Tregs capable of controlling severe autoimmune disease.

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