Control of immune responses by antigen-specific regulatory T cells expressing the folate receptor

Immune responses can be enhanced or dampened by differential manipulation of Foxp3-expressing CD25(+)CD4(+) natural regulatory T (Treg) cells versus other naive or activated T cells. By searching for a molecule capable of distinguishing these populations, we here found that natural Treg cells constitutively expressed high amounts of folate receptor 4 (FR4). The expression of FR4 and CD25 also separated antigen-stimulated CD4+ non-Treg cells into the FR4(hi)CD25(-) and FR4(lo)CD25(+) populations, which were different in proliferation and cytokine secretion upon restimulation. These distinctions showed that antigenic stimulation activated and expanded antigen-specific natural Treg cells as well as effector and memory T cells. Accordingly, FR4(hi)CD25(+)CD4(+) T cells enriched from alloantigen-stimulated T cells suppressed graft rejection. Administration of FR4 monoclonal antibody specifically reduced Treg cells, provoking effective tumor immunity in tumor-bearing animals, whereas similar treatment of normal young mice elicited autoimmune disease. Thus, specific manipulation of FR4(hi)CD25(+) CD4(+) Treg cells helps control ongoing immune responses.