Regulatory T (Treg) cells are essential for maintaining peripheral tolerance and for limiting excessive inflammatory responses under various conditions. The lineage-specific transcription factor Foxp3 has a critical role in Treg-cell biology. Foxp3 forms large protein complexes and cooperates with environmentally induced transcription factors to shape the Treg-cell transcriptional program. Here, we discuss mechanisms of gene regulation that underlie Treg-cell differentiation and function with an emphasis on studies from our laboratory.
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