The Macrophage Galactose-Type C-Type Lectin (MGL) Modulates Regulatory T Cell Functions

PLoS One. 2015 Jul 6;10(7):e0132617. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132617. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are physiologically designed to prevent autoimmune disease and maintain self-tolerance. In tumour microenvironments, their presence is related to a poor prognosis, and they influence the therapeutic outcome due to their capacity to suppress the immune response by cell-cell contact and to release immunosuppressive cytokines. In this study, we demonstrate that Treg immunosuppressive activity can be modulated by the cross-linking between the CD45RA expressed by Tregs and the C-type lectin MGL. This specific interaction strongly decreases the immunosuppressive activity of Tregs, restoring the proliferative capacity of co-cultured T lymphocytes. This effect can be attributed to changes in CD45RA and TCR signalling through the inhibition of Lck and inactivation of Zap-70, an increase in the Foxp3 methylation status and, ultimately, the reduced production of suppressive cytokines. These results indicate a role of MGL as an immunomodulator within the tumour microenvironment interfering with Treg functions, suggesting its possible use in the design of anticancer vaccines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Coculture Techniques
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance*
  • Lectins, C-Type / immunology*
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck) / immunology
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology
  • Signal Transduction / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase / immunology

Substances

  • FOXP3 protein, human
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • MGL lectin, human
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck)
  • ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro (MN: AIRC 2009), Ricerche Universitarie (CN: Ateneo 2012, 2013; IGZ: Ateneo “Start up” 2013). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.