Oligopeptides of Chorionic Gonadotropin β-Subunit in Induction of T Cell Differentiation into Treg and Th17

The role of oligopeptides of chorionic gonadotropin β-subunit (LQGV, AQGV, and VLPALP) in induction of differentiation into T-regulatory lymphocytes (Treg) and IL-17-producing lymphocytes (Th17) was studied in an in vitro system. Chorionic gonadotropin and oligopeptides promoted CD4+ cell differentiation into functionally active Treg (FOXP3+GITR+ and FOXP3+CTLA-4+), while chorionic gonadotropin and AQGV additionally stimulated IL-10 production by these cells. In parallel, chorionic gonadotropin and oligopeptides prevented CD4+ cell differentiation into Th17 lymphocytes (ROR-gt+IL-17A+) and suppressed IL-17A secretion. Hence, oligopeptides of chorionic gonadotropin β-subunit promoted differentiation of CD4+ cells into Treg and, in parallel, suppress Th17 induction, thus virtually completely reproducing the effects of the hormone, which opens new vista for their use in clinical practice.