Method for identifying regulatory T cells
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to methods and kits for identifying, quantifying and isolating regulatory T cells, to methods and kits for diagnosing or monitoring autoimmune diseases, immunoinflammatory diseases, allergic diseases, predispositions thereto, infectious diseases, cancer, cancer treatment and/or organ transplantation based on regulatory T cell quantity, to methods and kits for predicting responses to therapy for autoimmune diseases, immunoinflammatory diseases, allergic diseases, predispositions thereto, infectious diseases, cancer and/or organ transplantation based on regulatory T cell quantity, and to methods and kits for therapy using isolated regulatory T cells.
1. A method for identifying a regulatory T cell or a population of regulatory T cells, the method comprising analyzing at least one cell within a primate biological sample to determine a level of cellular CD127, CD4 and CD25 expression, wherein CD127 low CD4 + CD25 + expression is indicative of a regulatory T cell or a population of regulatory T cells.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of analyzing further comprises determining a level of cellular expression for at least one additional cellular polypeptide or polynucleotide.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one additional cellular polypeptide or polynucleotide is cell surface-associated or intracellular.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one additional cellular polypeptide or polynucleotide is selected from the group comprising CD45RA, CD45RO, Foxp3, CTLA-4 or CD95.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the primate biological sample is selected from the group comprising a cell line, a bodily fluid or a tissue.
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the bodily fluid comprises blood or lymph.
7. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the sample comprises thymus, lymph node, spleen, tonsil, at least one isolated lymphocyte or at least one T cell.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises the steps of:
(a) obtaining a primate biological sample;
(b) contacting at least one cell within the primate biological sample with antibodies directed towards cell surface CD127, CD4 and CD25;
(c) subjecting the at least one cell to flow cytometry; and
(d) analyzing the flow cytometry signal for CD127 low CD4 + CD25 + expression
wherein CD127 low CD4 + CD25 + expression is indicative of a regulatory T cell or a population of regulatory T cells.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one cell within the sample is first assayed for CD4 and/or CD25 expression and found to be CD4+ and/or CD25+, and then assayed for CD127 expression.
10. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of quantifying the amount of CD127 low CD4 + CD25 + regulatory T cells in the primate biological sample.
11. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of
isolating said at least one cell, wherein said at least one cell is CD127 low CD4 + CD25 + .
12. A regulatory T cell when isolated by the method according to claim 11 .