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National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 50(113), 2016

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1611286114

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Egr2 and Egr3 in regulatory T cells cooperatively control systemic autoimmunity through Ltbp3-mediated TGF-β3 production

This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

Significance Transcription factors early growth response gene 2 (Egr2) and Egr3 have long been regarded as negative regulators of T-cell activation. Egr2 is also known as a susceptibility gene for systemic lupus erythematosus characterized by dysregulated humoral immune responses to autoantigens. Previously, we reported that Egr2-expressing CD4 + CD25 - LAG3 + regulatory T cells regulate lupus pathogenesis via production of TGF-β3. However, the role of Egr2 and Egr3 in the regulation of humoral immunity is unclear. Here we report that Egr2 and Egr3 regulate germinal center reactions by promoting TGF-β3 production from regulatory T cells. Egr2 and Egr3 induce the expression of latent TGF-β binding protein 3 (Ltbp3), which is required for TGF-β3 secretion. These findings suggest that Egr2 and Egr3 in T cells may be potential novel therapeutic targets for autoantibody-mediated autoimmune diseases.