Stability and function of regulatory T cells expressing the transcription factor T-bet (original) (raw)

Adaptive immune responses are tailored to different types of pathogens through differentiation of naïve CD4 T cells into functionally distinct subsets of effector T cells (T H 1, T H 2, and T H 17) defined by expression of key transcription factors (TFs) 1. Regulatory T (Treg) cells comprise a distinct anti-inflammatory lineage specified by the X-linked TF Foxp3 2, 3. Paradoxically, some activated Treg cells express the aforementioned effector CD4 T cell TFs, which have been suggested to endow Treg cells with enhanced suppressive capacity 4, 5, 6. Whether expression of these factors in Treg cells-akin to effector T cells-is indicative of heterogeneity of functionally discrete and stable differentiation states, or conversely may be readily reversible, is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that in Treg cells expression of the T H 1-associated TF T-bet, induced at steady state and following infection, gradually becomes highly stable even under non-permissive conditions. Loss-of-function or elimination of T-bet-expressing Treg cells-but not of T-bet in Users may view, print, copy, and download text and data-mine the content in such documents, for the purposes of academic research, subject always to the full Conditions of use:

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