Blockade of TGF-β signaling to enhance the antitumor response is accompanied by dysregulation of the functional activity of CD4

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The pleiotropic cytokine, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, and CD4 METHODS: Using BALB/c, FoxP3eGFP and Rag RESULTS: SM16 abrogates TGF-β-induced Treg generation in vitro but does not prevent global homeostatic expansion of CD4 CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that blockade of TGF-β signaling is a potentially useful strategy for blunting Treg function to enhance the anti-tumor response. Our data further suggest that the overall dampening of Treg function may involve the expansion of a quiescent Treg precursor population, which is CD