Kruppel-like factor 2+ CD4 T cells avert microbiota induced intestinal inflammation [RNA-seq]

Commensal immune tolerance requires cells that actively sense and suppress inflammation. Here we show this is in large part mediated by CD4 cells that express the transcriptional regulator KLF2. Suppression by KLF2+ CD4 cells requires cell-intrinsic TCR stimulation. To investigate how KLF2 CD4 cells perform this role, gene expression by purified KLF2+ compared with KLF2-negative CD4 cells were evaluated with TCR stimulation in vitro and control non-stimulated cells. Splenocytes were harvested from KLF2(GFP) FOXP3(RFP) dual reporter mice, and sort purification for FOXP3-negative KLF2+ CD44hi compared with FOXP3-negative KLF2-negative CD44hi cells. Sort purified cells were stimulated with anti-CD3 (2.5 micrograms/mL) plus anti-CD28 antibody (1.25 micrograms/mL ) compared with no stimulation controls for 48 hours prior to RNA harvest.