PD-L1-PD-1 interactions limit effector regulatory T cell populations at homeostasis and during infection.

Abstract

Phenotypic and transcriptional profiling of regulatory T (T) cells at homeostasis reveals that T cell receptor activation promotes Tcells with an effector phenotype (eT) characterized by the production of interleukin-10 and expression of the inhibitory receptor PD-1. At homeostasis, blockade of the PD-1 pathway results in enhanced eTcell activity, whereas during infection with Toxoplasma gondii, early interferon-γ upregulates myeloid cell expression of PD-L1 associated with reduced Tcell populations. In infected mice, blockade of PD-L1, complete deletion of PD-1 or lineage-specific deletion of PD-1 in Tcells prevents loss of eTcells. These interventions resulted in a reduced ratio of pathogen-specific effector T cells: eTcells and increased levels of interleukin-10 that mitigated the development of immunopathology, but which could compromise parasite control. Thus, eTcell expression of PD-1 acts as a sensor to rapidly tune the pool of eTcells at homeostasis and during inflammatory processes.