Extracorporeal photophoresis augments function of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells by triggering adenosine production.

BACKGROUND: During extracorporeal photophoresis (ECP), peripheral blood mononuclear cells are treated with DNA-intercalating agents and irradiated with ultraviolet light. This procedure exerts immunosuppressive effects, most likely mediated by regulatory T cells (Treg). However, the underlying mechanisms are not clear yet. In our study, we investigated the effect of ECP on frequency and function of Treg in the peripheral blood of patients suffering from graft-versus-host disease.

METHODS: Whole blood samples from graft-versus-host disease patients were taken before and after the ECP treatment on 2 consecutive days. Phenotypical analysis of changes in distinct leukocyte subsets within the peripheral blood of patients and healthy controls was performed by means of flow cytometry. Functional analysis of the Treg population after magnetic bead isolation was performed using conventional suppression assays, and adenosine was detected by means of high pressure liquid chromatography and Lanzetta assays.

RESULTS: We show that the frequency of CD4/CD25/FoxP3 Treg in the peripheral blood increases after each cycle of ECP and also in the course of treatment. The suppressive capacity of Treg after ECP was increased compared with that of Treg before ECP, although not reaching the suppression levels obtained with Treg from healthy controls. Furthermore, we show that ECP stimulates the CD39-mediated production of adenosine by Treg, which substantially reduces the T-cell proliferation in in vitro suppression assays.

CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that ECP stimulates the conversion of ATP to adenosine by the ectonucleotiodase CD39, which acts as a novel soluble immunosuppressive reagent mediating immunosuppression of Treg.