Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38386413›Full record

ArticleJCI insight2024

Rapamycin rescues loss of function in blood-brain barrier-interacting Tregs.

Paulien Baeten, Ibrahim Hamad, Cindy Hoeks, Michael Hiltensperger, Bart Van Wijmeersch, Veronica Popescu, Lilian Aly, Veerle Somers, Thomas Korn, Markus Kleinewietfeld and 2 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JCI insight, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.7field-weighted citation impact, top 17% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Regulatory T cells in cancer and inflammation.Signal transduction and targeted therapy · 2026
    Review
  5. Review
  6. Review
  7. Review
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. The 'TNature reviews. Rheumatology · 2025
    Review
  11. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

Paulien BaetenUniversitair MS Centrum, Campus Diepenbeek, Belgium.
Ibrahim HamadUniversitair MS Centrum, Campus Diepenbeek, Belgium.
Cindy HoeksUniversitair MS Centrum, Campus Diepenbeek, Belgium.
Michael HiltenspergerKlinikum Rechts der Isar, Institute for Experimental Neuroimmunology, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Bart Van WijmeerschUniversitair MS Centrum, Campus Pelt, Belgium.
Veronica PopescuUniversitair MS Centrum, Campus Pelt, Belgium.
Lilian AlyKlinikum Rechts der Isar, Institute for Experimental Neuroimmunology, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Veerle SomersUniversitair MS Centrum, Campus Diepenbeek, Belgium.
Thomas KornKlinikum Rechts der Isar, Institute for Experimental Neuroimmunology, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Markus KleinewietfeldUniversitair MS Centrum, Campus Diepenbeek, Belgium.
Niels HellingsUniversitair MS Centrum, Campus Diepenbeek, Belgium.
Bieke BrouxUniversitair MS Centrum, Campus Diepenbeek, Belgium.
National MS Center MelsbroekTUM Klinikum · DERevalidatieziekenhuis RevArte · BEVIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research · BE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

In autoimmunity, FOXP3+ Tregs skew toward a proinflammatory, nonsuppressive phenotype and are, therefore, unable to control the exaggerated autoimmune response. This largely affects the success of autologous Treg therapy, which is currently under investigation for autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS). There is a need to ensure in vivo Treg stability before successful application of Treg therapy. Using genetic fate-mapping mice, we demonstrate that inflammatory, cytokine-expressing exFOXP3 T cells accumulate in the CNS during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. In a human in vitro model, we discovered that interaction with inflamed blood-brain barrier endothelial cells (BBB-ECs) induces loss of function by Tregs. Transcriptome and cytokine analysis revealed that in vitro migrated Tregs have disrupted regenerative potential and a proinflammatory Th1/17 signature, and they upregulate the mTORC1 signaling pathway. In vitro treatment of migrated human Tregs with the clinically approved mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin restored suppression. Finally, flow cytometric analysis indicated an enrichment of inflammatory, less-suppressive CD49d+ Tregs in the cerebrospinal fluid of people with MS. In summary, interaction with BBB-ECs is sufficient to affect Treg function, and transmigration triggers an additive proinflammatory phenotype switch. These insights help improve the efficacy of autologous Treg therapy of MS.

Indexed as

Autoimmune DiseasesMultiple SclerosisAnimalsBlood-Brain BarrierCytokinesEndothelial CellsHumansMechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1MiceSirolimusT-Lymphocytes, RegulatoryCytokinesMechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1SirolimusAutoimmunityCell migration/adhesionImmunologyMultiple sclerosisTolerance

Identifiers

PMID38386413
PMCPMC11128200
OpenAlexW4392032705

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.