In:
BMC Immunology, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, Vol. 13, No. 1 ( 2012-12)
Abstract:
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are required for proper maintenance of immunological self-tolerance and immune homeostasis. Folate receptor 4 (FR4) is expressed at high levels in transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)-induced Tregs and natural Tregs. Moreover, antibody-mediated targeting of FR4 is sufficient to mediate Treg depletion. Results In this study, we describe a novel FR4 transcript variant, FR4 D3 , in which exon 3 is deleted. The mRNA of FR4 D3 encodes a FR4 variant truncated by 189 bp. FR4 D3 was found to be predominantly expressed in CD4 + CD25 + Treg cells. Overexpression of FR4 D3 in CD4 + CD25 + Treg cells in vitro stimulated proliferation, which may modulate the ability of these cells to bind and incorporate folic acid. Conclusions Our results suggested that high levels of FR4 D3 may be critical to support the substantial proliferative capacity of Treg cells.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1471-2172
DOI:
10.1186/1471-2172-13-30
Language:
English
Publisher:
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Publication Date:
2012
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2041500-X