The impact of TGFb as well as PGE2 treatment on the expression of regulatory T cell specific genes

Regulatory T cells (Treg) are potent inhibitors of the activation of the immune system. TGFb and PGE2 have been shown to be involved in the induction of regulatory T cells. The transcriptional profile of CD4+ T cells treated with TGFb as well as PGE2 was compared to untreated CD4+CD25- T cells as well as to regulatory T cells in order to determine the relationship of these cells to regulatory T cells. Freshly isolated CD4+ T cell were activated with various conditions and the transcriptional profiles were compared to CD4+ T cells separated into CD25 negative and positive subpopulations.