Progranulin Inhibits Human T Lymphocyte Proliferation by Inducing the Formation of Regulatory T Lymphocytes

Abstract EN

We have examined the effect of progranulin (PGRN) on human T cell proliferation and its underlying mechanism.

We show that PGRN inhibits the PHA-induced multiplication of T lymphocytes.

It increases the number of iTregs when T lymphocytes are activated by PHA but does not do so in the absence of PHA.

PGRN-mediated inhibition of T lymphocyte proliferation, as well as the induction of iTregs, was completely reversed by a TGF-β inhibitor or a Treg inhibitor.

PGRN induced TGF-β secretion in the presence of PHA whereas it did not in the absence of PHA.

Our findings indicate that PGRN suppresses T lymphocyte proliferation by enhancing the formation of iTregs from activated T lymphocytes in response to TGF-β.