ATC Abstracts

American Transplant Congress abstracts

  • Home
  • Meetings Archive
    • 2022 American Transplant Congress
    • 2021 American Transplant Congress
    • 2020 American Transplant Congress
    • 2019 American Transplant Congress
    • 2018 American Transplant Congress
    • 2017 American Transplant Congress
    • 2016 American Transplant Congress
    • 2015 American Transplant Congress
    • 2013 American Transplant Congress
  • Keyword Index
  • Resources
    • 2021 Resources
    • 2016 Resources
      • 2016 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2016 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2015-2016
      • AST Board of Directors 2015-2016
    • 2015 Resources
      • 2015 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2015 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2014-2015
      • AST Board of Directors 2014-2015
      • 2015 Conference Schedule
  • Search

In Vitro α-Galactosylceramide Stimulation Expands CD4+CD25+Foxp3− Regulatory T Cell Precursors in Murine Thymocytes

H. Katsumata,1,2 M. Ikemiyagi,1 T. Kanzawa,1 H. Fukuda,1 R. Ishii,1 K. Saiga,1,3 M. Okumi,1 Y. Ishii,4 K. Tanabe.1

1Urology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
2Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
3Urology, Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation, Fukushima, Japan
4Laboratory for Immunotherapy, Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS) RIKEN, Yokohama, Japan.

Meeting: 2018 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: A434

Keywords: Mice, T cells, Thymus, Tolerance

Session Information

Session Name: Poster Session A: Tolerance / Immune Deviation

Session Type: Poster Session

Date: Saturday, June 2, 2018

Session Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm

 Presentation Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm

Location: Hall 4EF

Background: We previously established mixed chimerism after invariant natural killer T-cell stimulation by administration of liposomal α-galactosylceramide (lipo-αGC) and costimulatory blockade, leading to regulatory T cell (Treg) expansion in mice. In this regimen, the thymus was considered important because Tregs failed to expand in thymectomized mice, resulting in a chimerism brake. In the thymus, Tregs are known to develop through a two-step process: first, post-positive-selection thymocytes differentiate into CD4+CD25+Foxp3− Treg precursors (preTregs) in a T cell receptor (TCR)-dependent manner, and second, IL-2 stimulation causes these preTregs to develop into Tregs. Herein, we investigated the effect of lipo-αGC on this process by using a primary thymocyte culture system.

Methods: Thymocytes from BALB/c mice were incubated with lipo-αGC for 3 days. Thereafter, the cell population was analyzed and levels of various cytokines (interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-10, and interferon-γ) were measured in the culture supernatant by flow cytometry using the Cytometric Beads Array. To evaluate their ability to differentiate into Foxp3+ Tregs, CD4+CD25+Foxp3− cells sorted from lipo-αGC-stimulated thymocytes of Foxp3-GFP BALB/c mice were stimulated with IL-2 for 24 hours, and Foxp3-GFP expression was then analyzed by flow cytometry.

Results: CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg and CD4+CD25+Foxp3– cell numbers increased in lipo-αGC-stimulated thymocytes compared to that in unstimulated thymocytes. Cytokine production levels between the two groups were comparable. Thus, lipo-αGC stimulation may affect the first step[mdash]TCR-dependent preTreg expansion[mdash]in the aforementioned two-step process. Foxp3 expression in CD4+CD25+Foxp3– cells was induced in an IL-2-dependent manner. Taken together, these results indicate that the CD4+CD25+Foxp3– cell population contained preTregs.

Conclusions: In vitro lipo-αGC stimulation can cause preTreg expansion followed by Treg development, suggesting that invariant natural killer T cells may be involved in regulation of thymic Treg differentiation and development.

CITATION INFORMATION: Katsumata H., Ikemiyagi M., Kanzawa T., Fukuda H., Ishii R., Saiga K., Okumi M., Ishii Y., Tanabe K. In Vitro α-Galactosylceramide Stimulation Expands CD4+CD25+Foxp3− Regulatory T Cell Precursors in Murine Thymocytes Am J Transplant. 2017;17 (suppl 3).

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Katsumata H, Ikemiyagi M, Kanzawa T, Fukuda H, Ishii R, Saiga K, Okumi M, Ishii Y, Tanabe K. In Vitro α-Galactosylceramide Stimulation Expands CD4+CD25+Foxp3− Regulatory T Cell Precursors in Murine Thymocytes [abstract]. https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/in-vitro-galactosylceramide-stimulation-expands-cd4cd25foxp3-regulatory-t-cell-precursors-in-murine-thymocytes/. Accessed May 30, 2025.

« Back to 2018 American Transplant Congress

Visit Our Partner Sites

American Transplant Congress (ATC)

Visit the official site for the American Transplant Congress »

American Journal of Transplantation

The official publication for the American Society of Transplantation (AST) and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) »

American Society of Transplantation (AST)

An organization of more than 3000 professionals dedicated to advancing the field of transplantation. »

American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS)

The society represents approximately 1,800 professionals dedicated to excellence in transplantation surgery. »

Copyright © 2013-2025 by American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Cookie Preferences