Investigating the role of soluble CTLA-4 (sCTLA-4) versus membrane-bound CTLA-4 (mCTLA-4) Osaki and Sakaguchi found that sCTLA-4 plays a role in limiting autoimmunity though interactions with APCs, blocking CD80/86 and limiting the induction of type 1 immunity, while still allowing for the induction of type 2 immunity under chronic inflammatory conditions. In mouse models, sCTLA-4 was found to limit autoimmunity in colitis models and enhance wound healing, but also to limit antitumor immune responses.
ABSTRACT: Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen -4 (CTLA-4) is a co-inhibitory receptor that restricts T cell activation. CTLA-4 exists as membrane (mCTLA-4) and soluble (sCTLA-4) forms, but the key producers, kinetics, and functions of sCTLA-4 are unclear. Here, we investigated the roles of sCTLA-4 in immune regulation under non-inflammatory and inflammatory conditions. Effector regulatory T (Treg) cells were the most active sCTLA-4 producers in basal and inflammatory states, with distinct kinetics upon T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation. We generated mice specifically deficient in sCTLA-4 production, which exhibited spontaneous activation of type 1 immune cells and heightened autoantibody/immunoglobulin E (IgE) production. Conversely, mCTLA-4-deficient mice developed severe type 2-skewed autoimmunity. sCTLA-4 blockade of CD80/86 on antigen-presenting cells inhibited T helper (Th)1, but not Th2, differentiation in vitro. In vivo, Treg-produced sCTLA-4, suppressed Th1-mediated experimental colitis, and enhanced wound healing but hampered tumor immunity. Thus, sCTLA-4 is essential for immune homeostasis and controlling type 1 immunity while allowing type 2 immunity to facilitate resolution in inflammatory conditions.
