In vivo Treg proliferation from IL-2 signaling alone

Cutting Edge: IL-2 Signals Determine the Degree of TCR Signaling Necessary To Support Regulatory T Cell Proliferation In Vivo.

Zou T, Kambayashi T. et al. J Immunol. 2012 Jul 1;189(1):28-32.

It has been thought that proliferation of T regulatory cells in vivo was dependent on signaling from T cell receptor –MHC Class II interaction.  Zou and colleagues report proliferative response of adoptively transferred Treg in MHC knockout recipient mice receiving IL-2 immune complex.  A similar effect was observed when STAT5 induced Treg were transferred.