ArrayExpress Uploader0mouseT cellsprimary cultured retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)6145arrayexpress_sid6T cells that encounter cultured ocular pigment epithelial cells in vitro are inhibited from undergoing T cell receptor-triggered...E-GEOD-22877/profile/8773/arrayexpressuploader12cellcytokineeyeDec.12, 2014Falseretinal-pigment-epithelial-cells-suppress-interleuE-GEOD-22877_A-AFFY-45Retinal pigment epithelial cells suppress interleukin-17-producing T-helper 17 cellsNov.11, 2014T cells that encounter cultured ocular pigment epithelial cells in vitro are inhibited from undergoing T cell receptor-triggered activation. Because retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells are able to suppress T-cell activation, we studied whether RPE cells could suppress cytokine production by activated T helper (Th) cells. In this study we showed that primary cultured RPE cells greatly suppressed activation of bystander CD4+ T cells in vitro, especially the cytokine production by the target T helper cells (Th1 cells, Th2 cells, Th17 cells, but not Th3 cells). Cultured RPE cells and RPE-supernatants significantly suppressed IL-17 producing CD4+ T cells, and RPE cells fully suppressed polarized Th17 cell lines that induced by recombinant proteins, IL-6 and TGFb2. Moreover, RPE cells failed to suppress IL-17 producing T cells in the presence of rIL-6. In addition, Th17 cells exposed to RPE were suppressed via TGFb, which produce RPE cells. These results indicate that retinal PE cells have immunosuppressive capacity in order to inhibit Th17-type effector T cells. Thus, ocular resident cells play a role in establishing immune regulation in the eye. Retinal pigment epithelium suppresses Th17 cellshttp://www.ebi.ac.uk/arrayexpress/experiments/E-GEOD-22877http://www.ebi.ac.uk/arrayexpress/experiments/E-GEOD-22877/samples/