Regulatory T cells engage in the maintenance of immunological self-tolerance by actively suppressing self-reactive lymphocytes. Little is known, however, about the molecular mechanism of their development. Here we show that Foxp3, which encodes a transcription factor that is genetically defective in an autoimmune and inflammatory syndrome in humans and mice, is specifically expressed in naturally arising CD4+ regulatory T cells. Furthermore, retroviral gene transfer of Foxp3 converts naive T cells toward a regulatory T cell phenotype similar to that of naturally occurring CD4+ regulatory T cells. Thus, Foxp3 is a key regulatory gene for the development of regulatory T cells.

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Control of Regulatory T Cell Development by the Transcription Factor Foxp3

Effector functions in the immune system are carried out by a variety of cell types, and as our understanding of the complexity of the system expands, the number of recognized subdivisions of cell types also continues to increase. B lymphocytes, producing antibody, were initially distinguished from T lymphocytes, which provide help for B cells (1, 2). The T-cell population was further divided when surface markers allowed separation of helper cells from cytotoxic cells (3). Although there were persistent reports of heterogeneity in the helper T-cell compartment (reviewed below), only relatively recently were distinct types of helper cells resolved. In this review we describe the differences between two types of cloned helper T cells, defined primarily by differences in the pattern of lymphokines ynthesized, and we also discuss the different functions of the two types of cells and their lymphokines. Patterns of lymphokine synthesis are convenient and explicit markers to describe T-cell subclass differences, and evidence increases that many of the functions of helper T cells are predicted by the functions of the lymphokines that they synthesize after activation by antigen and presenting cells. The separation of many mouse helper T-cell clones into these two distinct types is now well established, but their origin in normal T-cell populations is still not clear. Further divisions of helper T cells may have to be recognized before a complete picture of helper T-cell function can be obtained.

TH1 and TH2 cells: different patterns of lymphokine secretion lead to different functional properties.

In multicellular organisms, homeostasis is maintained through a balance between cell proliferation and cell death. Although much is known about the control of cell proliferation, less is known about the control of cell death. Physiologic cell death occurs primarily through an evolutionarily conserved form of cell suicide termed apoptosis. The decision of a cell to undergo apoptosis can be influenced by a wide variety of regulatory stimuli. Recent evidence suggests that alterations in cell survival contribute to the pathogenesis of a number of human diseases, including cancer, viral infections, autoimmune diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). Treatments designed to specifically alter the apoptotic threshold may have the potential to change the natural progression of some of these diseases.

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/267/5203/1456.full.pdf

Apoptosis in the pathogenesis and treatment of disease

Naive T lymphocytes travel to T-cell areas of secondary lymphoid organs in search of antigen presented by dendritic cells. Once activated, they proliferate vigorously, generating effector cells that can migrate to B-cell areas or to inflamed tissues. A fraction of primed T lymphocytes persists as circulating memory cells that can confer protection and give, upon secondary challenge, a qualitatively different and quantitatively enhanced response. The nature of the cells that mediate the different facets of immunological memory remains unresolved. Here we show that expression of CCR7, a chemokine receptor that controls homing to secondary lymphoid organs, divides human memory T cells into two functionally distinct subsets. CCR7- memory cells express receptors for migration to inflamed tissues and display immediate effector function. In contrast, CCR7+ memory cells express lymph-node homing receptors and lack immediate effector function, but efficiently stimulate dendritic cells and differentiate into CCR7- effector cells upon secondary stimulation. The CCR7+ and CCR7- T cells, which we have named central memory (TCM) and effector memory (TEM), differentiate in a step-wise fashion from naive T cells, persist for years after immunization and allow a division of labour in the memory response.

Two subsets of memory T lymphocytes with distinct homing potentials and effector functions

Apoptosis by death factor.

The existence of subsets of CD4+ helper T lymphocytes that differ in their cytokine secretion patterns and effector functions provides a framework for understanding the heterogeneity of normal and pathological immune responses. Defining the cellular and molecular mechanisms of helper-T-cell differentiation should lead to rational strategies for manipulating immune responses for prophylaxis and therapy.

Functional diversity of helper T lymphocytes.

Cellular and molecular immunology , Cellular and molecular immunology , کتابخانه الکترونیک و دیجیتال - آذرسا

Cellular and Molecular Immunology

The regulation of immune responses to self-antigens is a complex process that involves maintaining self-tolerance while retaining the capacity to mount robust immune responses against invading microorganisms. Over the past few years, many new insights into this process have been gained, leading to the re-emergence of the idea that regulatory T (T(Reg)) cells are a central mechanism of immune regulation. These insights have raised fundamental questions concerning what constitutes a T(Reg) cell, where they develop and what signals maintain T(Reg)-cell populations in a functional state. Here, we propose the existence of two subsets of CD4+ T(Reg) cells--natural and adaptive--that differ in terms of their development, specificity, mechanism of action and dependence on T-cell receptor and co-stimulatory signalling.

Natural versus adaptive regulatory T cells.

The immune system responds in a regulated fashion to microbes and eliminates them, but it does not respond to self-antigens. Several regulatory mechanisms function to terminate responses to foreign antigens, returning the immune system to a basal state after the antigen has been cleared, and to maintain unresponsiveness, or tolerance, to self-antigens. Here, recent advances in understanding of the molecular bases and physiologic roles of the mechanisms of immune homeostasis are examined.

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/280/5361/243.full.pdf

Abul K. Abbas

Papers

Functional diversity of helper T lymphocytes.

Cellular and Molecular Immunology

Natural versus adaptive regulatory T cells.

Homeostasis and Self-Tolerance in the Immune System: Turning Lymphocytes off

Induction of peripheral T cell tolerance in vivo requires CTLA-4 engagement.