Foxp3+ Tregs are recruited to the retina to repair pathological angiogenesis.

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Foxp3+ Tregs are recruited to the retina to repair pathological angiogenesis.

Nat Commun. 2017 09 29;8(1):748

Authors: Deliyanti D, Talia DM, Zhu T, Maxwell MJ, Agrotis A, Jerome JR, Hargreaves EM, Gerondakis S, Hibbs ML, Mackay F, Wilkinson-Berka JL

Abstract
Neovascular retinopathies are major causes of vision loss; yet treatments to prevent the condition are inadequate. The role of regulatory T cells in neovascular retinopathy is unknown. Here we show that in retinopathy regulatory T cells are transiently increased in lymphoid organs and the retina, but decline when neovascularization is established. The decline is prevented following regulatory T cells expansion with an IL-2/anti-IL-2 mAb complex or the adoptive transfer of regulatory T cells. Further, both approaches reduce vasculopathy (vaso-obliteration, neovascularization, vascular leakage) and alter the activation of Tmem119+ retinal microglia. Our in vitro studies complement these findings, showing that retinal microglia co-cultured with regulatory T cells exhibit a reduction in co-stimulatory molecules and pro-inflammatory mediators that is attenuated by CTLA-4 blockade. Collectively, we demonstrate that regulatory T cells are recruited to the retina and, when expanded in number, repair the vasculature. Manipulation of regulatory T cell numbers is a previously unrecognized, and promising avenue for therapies to prevent blinding neovascular retinopathies.The local immune responses in the eye are attenuated to preserve sight. Surprisingly, Deliyanti et al. show that regulatory T cells (Tregs) take an active role in protecting the eye from neovascularization in oxygen-induced retinopathy, and that interventions that augment the retinal Treg numbers reduce neovascular retinopathy in mice.

PMID: 28963474 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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