T-cell and B-cell Immunology

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a specialized subset of CD4+CD25+ lymphocytes that suppress excessive immune responses, preventing the body from attacking its own tissues—a process called immune tolerance. Their identity and stability depend heavily on the transcription factor Foxp3, while signals from cytokines like TGF-β and IL-2 govern how Tregs are generated, whether in the thymus during development or in peripheral tissues after antigen exposure. Disruptions to Treg function are implicated in a wide range of autoimmune diseases, and paradoxically, tumors can exploit these same cells to evade immune surveillance. Researchers are now working to understand how Treg populations are maintained as memory cells over time, and how their activity might be selectively dialed up or down to treat conditions ranging from autoimmunity to cancer.

Works

126,528

Total citations

4,000,864

Keywords

Foxp3TGF-ßCD4+CD25+Immune ToleranceAutoimmunityThymic Selection