Interestingly, FoxP3 expression was also detected in influenza virus-specific CD4 T cells. Transforming growth factor β contributed to antigen-specific Treg expansion in vitro, suggesting that it may contribute to antigen-specific Treg expansion in vivo. Furthermore, HCV-specific FoxP3 + Tregs were detected in HCV-seropositive persons with antigen-specific expansion, major histocompatibility complex class II/peptide tetramer binding affinity, and preferential suppression of HCV-specific CD8 T cells.
We report that HCV-infected patients display increased circulating FoxP3 + Tregs that are phenotypically and functionally indistinguishable from FoxP3 + Tregs in uninfected subjects. Since hepatitis C virus (HCV) persists with increased circulating CD4 +CD25 + T cells and virus-specific effector T-cell dysfunction, we asked if CD4 +CD25 + T cells in HCV-infected individuals are similar to natural Tregs in uninfected individuals and if they include HCV-specific Tregs using the specific Treg marker FoxP3 at the single-cell level. CD4 +CD25 + regulatory T cells (CD25 + Tregs) play a key role in immune regulation.
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