Transcriptional regulation and development of regulatory T cells

• Published in: Experimental & molecular medicine 2018-03, Vol.50 (3), p.e456-e456
• Main Authors: Lee, Wonyong, Lee, Gap Ryol
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/250/2152/1566/2493; 631/250/2152/569; Adaptive immunity; Animals; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; CD4 antigen; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - cytology; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Cell Differentiation - physiology; Forkhead Transcription Factors - metabolism; Foxp3 protein; Gene regulation; Humans; Immune response; Immunological tolerance; Immunoregulation; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes T; Medical Biochemistry; Molecular Medicine; Review; Stem Cells; T cell receptors; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - cytology; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - metabolism
• ISSN: 1226-3613; 2092-6413
• DOI: 10.1038/emm.2017.313

Regulatory T (Treg) cells are a distinct subset of CD4 + T cells. Instead of triggering adaptive immunity, they suppress immune responses. Small numbers of Treg cells reside within lymphoid organs and peripheral tissues, but their contribution to immune tolerance is so significant that defects in Treg cell function cause catastrophic immune disorders. Since they were first discovered 20 years ago, efforts have been made to understand the differences in developmental processes between Treg cells and conventional T cells that determine the ultimate fate of the overall T-cell population. Transcription factor Foxp3 is crucial for Treg cell differentiation, but it is not the whole story. Owing to recent advances in Treg cell research, we are now on the verge of appreciating the comprehensive mechanisms underlying Treg cell generation. Here, we discuss major discoveries, active study topics and remaining questions regarding Treg cell development. Immunotherapy: Understanding regulatory T cell development A better understanding of the T cells that keep the immune system in check is needed to realize the therapeutic promise of these cells. Wonyong Lee and Gap Ryol Lee from Sogang University in Seoul, South Korea, review the major discoveries, active research topics, and open questions about what controls the development of regulatory T cells. These immune cells grow in the thymus and elsewhere in the body from precursor cells that can also give rise to conventional helper T cells. It has long been known that a transcription factor called Foxp3 is crucial for determining the fate of precursor cells. In recent years, however, a number of other proteins have also been implicated in regulatory T cell differentiation. Teasing out this developmental pathway could lead to new cell-based treatments for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.