Generation of Helios reporter mice and an evaluation of the suppressive capacity of Helios(+) regulatory T cells in vitro.Helios is a member of the Ikaros transcription factor family and has been reported to be a marker of thymus-derived regulatory T cells (Treg).  Helios is an intracellular protein, however, and hence cannot be used as a marker to separate living Tregs.  To solve this problem, we generated Helios reporter mice in which Helios+ cells selectively express Venus, a variant of green fluorescent protein.  Most of the Tregs in the thymus expressed Helios, whereas its expression was varied in peripheral lymphoid organs.  The Helios+ Treg-population was superior in ability to suppress both antigen-specific and TCR-stimulated T cell responses.  We also showed that Helios+ Tregs inhibited the cytokine production by T cells more efficiently than Helios- Tregs.  We conclude that Helios reporter mouse strain is a useful tool to study function of Helios and that Helios+ Tregs represent the highly suppressive population.
Helios
To solve this problem, we generated Helios reporter mice in which Helios+ cells selectively express Venus, a variant of green fluorescent protein. 
Venus
To solve this problem, we generated Helios reporter mice in which Helios+ cells selectively express Venus, a variant of green fluorescent protein. 
green fluorescent protein