Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2010 Dec;53(12):737-748. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2010.53.12.737.

Regulatory T Cells in the Human Immune System

• Kim YM

• KMID: 2277168
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2010.53.12.737

Abstract

Regulatory T (TReg) cells are essential for maintaining peripheral tolerance, preventing autoimmune diseases and limiting chronic inflammatory diseases. However, they also limit beneficial responses by suppressing sterilizing immunity and limiting antitumor immunity. TReg cells characterized by expression of the transcription factor Foxp3 play a key role in immune homeostasis. Rather than a monomorphic population strictly determined by Foxp3 as a 'master regulator', the emerging view is one of TReg cells as a population with many levels of complexity. Distinct subphenotypes of Foxp3+ TReg cells are found in different anatomical locations. This review will focus on these novel aspects of TReg cell diversity, and discuss recent findings regarding human TReg cells, including the ontogeny and development of TReg cell subsets that have naive or memory phenotypes, the unique mechanisms of suppression mediated by TReg cell subsets and factors that regulate TReg cell lineage commitment. We also will discuss future studies that are needed for the successful therapeutic use of human TReg cells.

Keyword

FoxP3; Regulatory T cell; Peripheral tolerance; Autoimmune disease

MeSH Terms

Autoimmune Diseases
Homeostasis
Humans
Immune System
Memory
Peripheral Tolerance
Phenotype
T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
Transcription Factors
Transcription Factors