Date of Award
2017
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Microbiology and Immunology
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are required to suppress inflammation and prevent autoimmunity. During fetal development Tregs are crucial to maintain tolerance between mother and child. After birth, neonates require tolerance to avoid harmful immune responses to foreign antigens in food and allow colonization with commensal microbes. We demonstrate a propensity for T cells in human umbilical cord blood to differentiate into Tregs in response to antigen receptor stimulation ex vivo. Cord blood-derived Tregs potently suppress T cell proliferation, but also produce pro-inflammatory cytokines known to activate innate immune responses. These results suggest that antigen exposure during early life results in development of T cells with both regulatory and effector functions. Surprisingly, we observe expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) by cord blood and adult Tregs. We show a role for autocrine TNF signaling in survival of Tregs, suggesting an important function for TNF in immune tolerance and homeostasis.
Recommended Citation
Nelson, Alexander, "Multifunctional Regulatory T Cells from Human Umbilical Cord Blood and the Role of Tumor Necrosis Factor in Immune Homeostasis" (2017). Master's Theses. 3695.
https://ecommons.luc.edu/luc_theses/3695
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2017 Alexander Nelson
