Interleukin-8 and RANTES are signature cytokines made by HOZOT, a new type of regulatory T cells

Distinct cytokine production profiles define the effector functions of both helper and regulatory T cells. Recently, we established novel cytotoxic regulatory T (Treg) cell lines, HOZOT, which have been characterized as IL-10-producing T cells. In this study, we further characterized HOZOT by performing comprehensive analyses of cytokines produced by HOZOTs in order to identify a signature cytokine profile. Using DNA microarrays, we compared the gene expression profiles of HOZOT-4, a representative HOZOT cell line, under three different conditions. Seven genes, including IL-8, IL-10, IL-13, MIP-1α, and MIP-1β, were identified as inducible cytokines when stimulated with stromal cells or anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies. Twelve genes, including IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-22, CCL1, and lymphotactin, were categorized as antibody stimulation–responsive but stromal cell-non-responsive. Three genes, IL-32, RANTES, and CCL23, were constitutively expressed irrespective of stimulation condition. Among these cytokines, we focused on two chemokines, IL-8 and RANTES for further studies, and found that only HOZOT produced both of them at considerable levels whereas other T cell subsets, including Tregs and helper T cells, did not. Kinetic and inhibition experiments revealed contrasting properties for the two chemokines. IL-8 was induced only after stimulation, whereas RANTES mRNA and protein accumulated to high levels even before stimulation. Interestingly, IL-8 mRNA was induced by cycloheximide treatment and RANTES showed reduced mRNA but increased protein expression by antibody stimulation. As a whole, the unique cytokine signature profile consisting of Th1, Th2, and cytolytic T cell cytokines as well as Treg cytokines reflect the multifunctional nature of HOZOT. In particular, the dual production of IL-8 and RANTES by distinct mechanisms is a hallmark of HOZOT.