Neurons can inhibit the activation of T cells by regulating the TGF-b pathways

초록

Neurons can inhibit the activation of T cells via regulating the TGF-ß pathways Myeong-Seong Seo1,3, Eun Hae Jeon1,3, Enkhmaa Lkhagva-Yondon1,3, and Myung-Shin Jeon1,2,3 1Translational Research Center, Inha University Hospital, 2Department of Molecular Biomedicine, College of Medicine, 3Program in Biomedical Science & Engineering Inha University, Incheon, Republic of Korea The brain is considered to be an immune-privilege organ, in which adaptive immunity and inflammation are highly controlled. After brain tissue damage occurs, e.g. stroke, various immune cells are infiltrated and brain cells such as neurons died, and T cells play an important role in brain inflammation. We established a neuron and T-cell co-culture system in vitro, to study how neurons can regulate T cell activation. Under stimulation of T cells by anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies, neurons isolated from the brain can inhibit expression of IFN-? and CD62L compared to T cells alone. In addition, neurons induced CD73 expression, known as a marker of regulatory T cells. Interestingly, all these proteins were fully restored in the presence of SB431542, an inhibitor for TGF-ß pathways including ALK 4, 5, and 7 receptors. Therefore, we think that neurons may inhibit T cell activation by regulating TGF-ß pathways. Probably, the TGF-ß pathways might be involved in the immune-privilege mechanisms suppressing T cell activation. The detailed molecular mechanisms are currently under investigation. (NRF2022R1A2C1010354)