TGFbeta1 deficiency does not affect the generation and maintenance of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ putative Treg cells, but causes their numerical inadequacy and loss of regulatory function.

TGFbeta1 is considered to be required for peripheral maintenance of CD4(+)CD25(+)FOXP3(+) T(reg) cells. However, we demonstrate no reduction in the percentage of such T cells in the spleens and thymi of Tgfb1(-/-) mice. Although putative T(reg) cells, characterized as CD4(+)CD25(+)FOXP3(+)CD62L(+) T cells, are increased in Tgfb1(-/-) mice, they may be inadequate to control activated T cells since the ratio of activated T cells:putative T(reg) cells is several-fold higher in Tgfb1(-/-) mice than in control mice. We further show that whereas Tgfb1(-/-) mice that express a chicken OVA-specific TCR transgene (DO11.10) have an increase in putative T(reg) cells, there are no detectable CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells in the spleens of DO11.10 Rag1(-/-) mice suggesting that T(reg)-cell generation is self-antigen dependent regardless of whether they express Tgfb1. Finally, we demonstrate that Tgfb1(-/-) T cells remain responsive to the suppressive effect of TGFbeta1 in vitro. These data suggest that TGFbeta1 is required for the regulatory function of T(reg) cells to prevent activation of T cells and autoimmunity.