Helios enhances the preferential differentiation of human fetal CD4+ naïve T cells into regulatory T cells. [RNA-Seq - ex vivo]

RNA sequencing was used to compare the transcriptome of ex vivo isolated adult and fetal naïve and regulatory T (Treg) cells. A Treg-specific transcriptome was defined by genes upregulated and downregulated preferentially in adult and fetal Treg cells relative to adult naive T cells. Fetal naive T cells show an intermediate expression of genes in the Treg-specific transcriptome. Overall design: RNA sequencing for 4 biological replicates of ex vivo sorted CD4+CD25-CD45RA+CD27+ naïve and CD4+CD25hiCD127lo Treg cells from fetal spleen and adult peripheral blood mononuclear cells.