While CD4+CD25high regulatory T cells (Tregs) have garnered much attention for their role in the maintenance of immune homeostasis, recent findings have shown that subsets of CD8+ T cells (CD8+ Tregs) display immunoregulatory functions as well. Both CD4+ Tregs and CD8+ Tregs appear impaired in number and/or function in several autoimmune diseases and in experimental animal models of autoimmunity, suggesting the possibility of immunotherapeutic targeting of these cells for improved management of autoimmune conditions. Our group has developed a strategy to induce CD8+ Tregs in autoimmune mice through the use of a tolerogenic self-peptide, and new information has been gained on the phenotype, function and role of induced CD8+ Tregs in autoimmunity. Here we present an overview of the role and mechanisms of action of CD8+ Tregs in autoimmunity, with a special focus on lupus. We also discuss the potential role of CD8+ Tregs in other diseases, including chronic infection and cancer.

Highlights d A lentiviral-based assay was developed to map SHMsusceptible regions of the genome d SHM susceptibility and SHM resistance are confined within TADs d Robust transcriptional activity does not explain SHM susceptibility d SHM targeting elements present in the genome likely help explain SHM susceptibility

Programmed death 1 (PD-1) and its ligands (PD-L1 and PD-L2) are responsible for inhibitory T cell signaling that helps mediate the mechanisms of tolerance and immune homeostasis. The PD-1:PD-L signaling pathway has been shown to play an important role in a variety of diseases, including autoimmune conditions, chronic infection, and cancer. Recently, investigators have explored the role of sex hormones in modulating the pathway in autoimmune conditions. Exploring the effects of sex hormones on the PD-1:PD-L pathway could shed light on the gender biased nature of many autoimmune conditions as well as aide in the development of therapeutics targeting the immune system.

Tolerizing mice polygenically predisposed to lupus-like disease (NZB/NZW F1 females) with a peptide mimicking anti-DNA IgG sequences containing MHC class I and class II T cell determinants (pConsensus, pCons) results in protection from full-blown disease attributable in part to the induction of CD4 þ CD25 þ Foxp3 þ and CD8 þ Foxp3 þ regulatory T cells. We compared 45 000 murine genes in total white blood cells (WBC), CD4 þ T cells, and CD8 þ T cells from splenocytes of (NZBxNZW) F1 lupus-prone mice tolerized with pCons vs untreated naïve mice and found two-fold or greater differential expression for 448 WBC, 174 CD4, and 60 CD8 genes. We identified differentially expressed genes that played roles in the immune response and apoptosis. Using real-time PCR, we validated differential expression of selected genes (IFI202B, Bcl2, Foxp3, Trp-53, CCR7 and IFNar1) in the CD8 þ T cell microarray and determined expression of selected highly upregulated genes in different immune cell subsets. We also determined Smads expression in different immune cell subsets, including CD4 þ T cells and CD8 þ T cells, to detect the effects of TGF-b, known to be the major cytokine that accounts for the suppressive capacity of CD8 þ Treg in this system. Silencing of anti-apoptotic gene Bcl2 or interferon genes (IFI202b and IFNar1 in combination) in CD8 þ T cells from tolerized mice did not affect the expression of the other selected genes. However, silencing of Foxp3 reduced expression of Foxp3, Ifi202b and PD1-all of which are involved in the suppressive capacity of CD8 þ Treg in this model.

Administration of an artificial peptide (pConsensus) based on anti-DNA IgG sequences that contain major histocompatibility complex class I and class II T-cell determinants, induces immune tolerance in NZB/NZW F1 female (BWF1) mice. To understand the molecular basis of CD8+ Ti-mediated suppression, we previously performed microarray analysis to identify genes that were differentially expressed following tolerance induction with pCons. CD8+ T cells from mice tolerized with pCons showed more than two-fold increase in Ifi202b mRNA, an interferon inducible gene, versus cells from untolerized mice. Ifi202b expression increased through weeks 1–4 after tolerization and then decreased, reapproaching baseline levels at 6 weeks. In vitro polyclonal activation of tolerized CD8+ T cells significantly increased Ifi202b mRNA expression. Importantly, silencing of Ifi202b abrogated the suppressive capacity of CD8+ Ti cells. This was associated with decreased expression of Foxp3, and decreased gene and protein expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)β and interleukin-2 (IL-2), but not of interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-10, or IL-17. Silencing of another IFN-induced gene upregulated in tolerized CD8+ T cells, IFNAR1, had no effect on the ability of CD8+ T cells to suppress autoantibody production. Our findings indicate a potential role for Ifi202b in the suppressive capacity of peptide-induced regulatory CD8+ Ti cells through effects on the expression of Foxp3 and the synthesis of TGFβ.