Can you rely on Treg cells on the rebound?

Eur J Immunol. 2014 Dec;44(12):3504-7. doi: 10.1002/eji.201445273.

Abstract

FoxP3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells comprise a highly dynamic population that restrains autoreactivity. Although complete or long-term depletion of Foxp3(+) CD4(+) Treg cells in adult mice has been shown to result in chronic inflammation and autoimmune disease, the impact of transient Treg-cell depletion on self-reactive responses is poorly defined. A new study published in this issue of the European Journal of Immunology [Eur. J. Immunol. 2014. 44: 3621-3631] shows that, although transient depletion of Treg cells in mice is swiftly followed by recovery of Treg-cell numbers, the "rebounded" population fails to maintain tolerance, culminating in severe autoimmune gastritis. This commentary explores new questions about the quantitative and qualitative aspects of Treg-cell function in immunological tolerance raised by this study and others.

Keywords: Autoimmune gastritis; Foxp3; Immune homeostasis; Immunological tolerance; Regulatory T (Treg) cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / pathology
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / immunology
  • Gastritis / immunology*
  • Gastritis / pathology
  • Immune Tolerance*
  • Lymphocyte Depletion*
  • Mice
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / pathology

Substances

  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxp3 protein, mouse