A subset of Treg cells shows labile expression of the corepressor Eos
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These Treg cells can reprogram into helper cells without losing Foxp3
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Eos-labile Treg cells are constitutively present in thymus, lymph nodes, and spleen
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Reprogrammed Treg cells can help support priming of effector T cells to new antigen
Summary
At sites of inflammation, certain regulatory T cells (Treg cells) can undergo rapid reprogramming into helper-like cells without loss of the transcription factor Foxp3. We show that reprogramming is controlled by downregulation of the transcription factor Eos (Ikzf4), an obligate corepressor for Foxp3. Reprogramming was restricted to a specific subset of “Eos-labile” Treg cells that was present in the thymus and identifiable by characteristic surface markers and DNA methylation. Mice made deficient in this subset became impaired in their ability to provide help for presentation of new antigens to naive T cells. Downregulation of Eos required the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6), and mice lacking IL-6 had impaired development and function of the Eos-labile subset. Conversely, the immunoregulatory enzyme IDO blocked loss of Eos and prevented the Eos-labile Treg cells from reprogramming. Thus, the Foxp3+ lineage contains a committed subset of Treg cells capable of rapid conversion into biologically important helper cells.
