CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells facilitate CD4+ T cell clonal anergy induction during the recovery from lymphopenia

T cell clonal anergy induction in lymphopenic nu/nu mice was found to be ineffective. Exposure to a tolerizing peptide Ag regimen instead induced aggressive CD4(+) cell cycle progression and increased Ag responsiveness (priming). Reconstitution of T cell-deficient mice by an adoptive transfer of mature peripheral lymphocytes was accompanied by the development of a CD25(+)Foxp3(+)CTLA-4(+)CD4(+) regulatory T cell population that acted to dampen Ag-driven cell cycle progression and facilitate the induction of clonal anergy in nearby responder CD25(-)CD4(+) T cells. Thus, an early recovery of CD25(+) regulatory T cells following a lymphopenic event can prevent exuberant Ag-stimulated CD4(+) cell cycle progression and promote the development of clonal anergy.