| Title | B7 costimulation antagonizes RORγt+ regulatory T cells and immune tolerance in the intestine. |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2026 |
| Authors | Lyu M, Sonnenberg GF |
| Journal | J Exp Med |
| Volume | 223 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Date Published | 2026 Jun 01 |
| ISSN | 1540-9538 |
| Keywords | Animals, Antigen-Presenting Cells, B7-1 Antigen, B7-2 Antigen, CTLA-4 Antigen, Dendritic Cells, Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Immune Tolerance, Intestines, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3, Signal Transduction, T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory |
| Abstract | Regulatory T (Treg) cells that recognize dietary- or microbiota-derived antigens express RORγt and are essential for immune tolerance in the intestine. A recent paradigm shift found these cells require major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII) on RORγt+ antigen-presenting cells (APCs) rather than conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) for signal one. Here, we evaluate signal two and unexpectedly find that costimulatory molecules B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86) antagonize the generation of microbiota-specific RORγt+ Treg cells. Gain-of-function or loss-of-function therapeutics targeting B7 via CTLA-4 exert reciprocal effects on the generation of microbiota-specific RORγt+ Treg cells. This axis was independent of B7 on RORγt+ APCs but required MHCII on this cell type. Finally, CTLA4-Ig treatment restores microbiota-specific RORγt+ Treg cell generation and protects from experimental intestinal inflammation induced by pathobiont colonization with IL-10R signaling blockade. These results define that RORγt+ Treg cells are uniquely restrained by B7 costimulation, while CTLA4-Ig enhances immune tolerance in the intestine when acting cooperatively with RORγt+ APCs. |
| DOI | 10.1084/jem.20251094 |
| Alternate Journal | J Exp Med |
| PubMed ID | 42030099 |
| Grant List | R01AI143842 / NH / NIH HHS / United States R01AI123368 / NH / NIH HHS / United States R01AI145989 / NH / NIH HHS / United States U01AI095608 / NH / NIH HHS / United States R01AI162936 / NH / NIH HHS / United States R37AI174468 / NH / NIH HHS / United States R01CA274534 / NH / NIH HHS / United States K99CA290052 / NH / NIH HHS / United States / / Burroughs Wellcome Fund / / / Meyer Cancer Center Collaborative Research Initiative / / / Dalton Family Foundation / / / Linda and Glenn Greenberg / |
