“调控性T细胞”(Treg) 构成有效抗肿瘤免疫的一道屏障。它们的删除能诱导很多肿瘤的减小和清除，但由于这些细胞在免疫系统中发挥重要的平衡作用，所以其删除也会导致失控的自体免疫和死亡。这篇论文描述了semaphorin-4a（T-细胞介导的免疫的一个活化剂）和neuropilin受体Nrp1在Treg细胞上的一种相互作用，该相互作用是Treg细胞限制抗肿瘤免疫反应和治疗已发生的炎性结肠炎所必需的，但对自体免疫的抑制和免疫自稳的维持来说却是可有可无的。至于是否可以通过以Treg细胞为目标来限制肿瘤生长而又不会引发自体免疫，其可行性仍有待确定。两种生物活性也许是不可分开的，但这项工作指出了可以对这一重要系统进一步定性的方向。（生物谷 Bioon.com）
生物谷推荐的英文摘要
Nature doi:10.1038/nature12428
Stability and function of regulatory T cells is maintained by a neuropilin-1–semaphorin-4a axis
Greg M. Delgoffe, Seng-Ryong Woo, Meghan E. Turnis, David M. Gravano, Cliff Guy, Abigail E. Overacre, Matthew L. Bettini, Peter Vogel, David Finkelstein, Jody Bonnevier, Creg J. Workman & Dario A. A. Vignali
Regulatory T cells (Treg cells) have a crucial role in the immune system by preventing autoimmunity, limiting immunopathology, and maintaining immune homeostasis1. However, they also represent a major barrier to effective anti-tumour immunity and sterilizing immunity to chronic viral infections1. The transcription factor Foxp3 has a major role in the development and programming of Treg cells2, 3. The relative stability of Treg cells at inflammatory disease sites has been a highly contentious subject4, 5, 6. There is considerable interest in identifying pathways that control the stability of Treg cells as many immune-mediated diseases are characterized by either exacerbated or limited Treg-cell function. Here we show that the immune-cell-expressed ligand semaphorin-4a (Sema4a) and the Treg-cell-expressed receptor neuropilin-1 (Nrp1) interact both in vitro, to potentiate Treg-cell function and survival, and in vivo, at inflammatory sites. Using mice with a Treg-cell-restricted deletion of Nrp1, we show that Nrp1 is dispensable for suppression of autoimmunity and maintenance of immune homeostasis, but is required by Treg cells to limit anti-tumour immune responses and to cure established inflammatory colitis. Sema4a ligation of Nrp1 restrained Akt phosphorylation cellularly and at the immunologic synapse by phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN), which increased nuclear localization of the transcription factor Foxo3a. The Nrp1-induced transcriptome promoted Treg-cell stability by enhancing quiescence and survival factors while inhibiting programs that promote differentiation. Importantly, this Nrp1-dependent molecular program is evident in intra-tumoral Treg cells. Our data support a model in which Treg-cell stability can be subverted in certain inflammatory sites, but is maintained by a Sema4a–Nrp1 axis, highlighting this pathway as a potential therapeutic target that could limit Treg-cell-mediated tumour-induced tolerance without inducing autoimmunity.
