Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy affects T regulatory cells by increasing their suppressive function.

Intravenous Ig therapy (IVIg) is reported to be a useful regimen in treating autoimmune diseases. In this study, we asked whether IVIg (in vitro) could increase the expression of TGF-beta, IL-10, and the transcription factor FoxP3 in T regulatory (Treg) cells, and the idea that IVIg could enhance suppressive properties of these cells. CD4(+) T cells from 12 healthy individuals were cultured in the presence or absence of IVIg vs human control IgG during 16, 24, and 36 h. Using FACS analysis and gating on CD4(+)CD25(high) Treg cells, we assessed the expression of intracellular TGF-beta, IL-10, and FoxP3. In addition, the production of TNF-alpha by stimulated CD4(+) T cells alone or in culture with CD25(+) by itself or together with IVIg was also assessed. The presence of IVIg with Treg cells in culture significantly increased the intracellular expression of TGF-beta (17.7 +/- 8.5% vs 29.8 +/- 13%; p = 0.02), IL-10 (20.7 +/- 4.7% vs 34.2 +/- 5.2%; p = 0.008) and FoxP3 (20.8 +/- 5.2% vs 33.7 +/- 5.9%; p = 0.0006) when compared with cells cultured alone or with control human IgG. The suppressive effect of CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells presented as the decrease of TNF-alpha production by stimulated CD4(+)CD25(-) (effector T cells) was further increased by adding IVIg to cell culture. We hereby demonstrate an additional mechanism by which IVIg could maintain self-tolerance and decrease immune-mediated inflammation.