Natural and TGF-beta-induced Foxp3(+)CD4(+) CD25(+) regulatory T cells are not mirror images of each other - PubMed (original) (raw)

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Natural and TGF-beta-induced Foxp3(+)CD4(+) CD25(+) regulatory T cells are not mirror images of each other

David A Horwitz et al. Trends Immunol. 2008 Sep.

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 beta (TGF-beta) (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-beta 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.

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