Increases in superantigen-specific Treg cells during MMTV infection are TLR4-dependent

CABRERA G; BURZIN D.; COURREGES MB; MUNDINIANO J; CAMICIA G; LORENZO D; MAGLIOCO AF; ROSS SR; NEPOMNASCHY I; PIAZZON I

Immunology 2007

Monduzzi Editore

Lugar: Bologna, Italia; Año: 2007; p. 523 - 528

Increases in superantigen-specific Treg cells during MMTV infection are TLR4-dependent. Mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) is a retrovirus transmitted during lactation that causes mammary tumors. It is well known that MMTV employs a superantigen (Sag) codified in its genome to exploit the host immune system and establish infection. It had been described that some pathogens induce regulatory cells in order to subvert the immune system. Since we have previously shown that some of the events that take place during MMTV infection are dependent on Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4), in the present study we have investigated the induction of regulatory T cells during MMTV infection and the involvement of TLR4 in this process. Results obtained show that MMTV is able to induce an early increase in Sag-specific regulatory T cells in a TLR4 dependent manner.