Abstract
Foxp3+ CD4+ CD25+ regulatory cell (Treg) subsets that maintain immunologic homeostasis have been considered to be a homogeneous population of naturally occurring, thymus-derived CD4+CD25+ cells (nTregs). However, similar Foxp3+ Tregs can be induced from CD25- precursors in vivo, and ex vivo with interleukin 2 (IL-2) and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) (iTregs). These two subsets differ in their principal antigen specificities and in the T-cell receptor signal strength and co-stimulatory requirements needed for their generation. However, whether iTregs have any unique functions in vivo has been unclear. Although IL-6 can convert nTregs to Th17 cells, iTregs induced by IL-2 and TGF-β are resistant to this cytokine and thereby might retain suppressive function at inflammatory sites. Thus, nTregs and iTregs may have different roles in the adaptive immune response.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 429-435 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Trends in Immunology |
Volume | 29 |
Issue number | 9 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 2008 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology