title: Molecular aspects of regulatory T cell development.
abstract: Naturally arising CD4(+) regulatory T cells are critical mediators of peripheral self tolerance and immune homeostasis. Emerging evidence suggests that these cells are a dedicated T cell lineage constitutively acting in a dominant, cell extrinsic manner to regulate immune function. These observations are driving a reevaluation of our understanding of the regulation of immune homeostasis and peripheral tolerance. But despite a growing body of phenomenological data, an understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying CD4(+) regulatory T cell development has only recently begun to emerge. This review highlights the major molecular pathways that have been implicated to date in the development of this T cell lineage.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Box 357370, Health Science Bldg. I604I, University of Washington School of Medicine, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. fontenot@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Jason D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Fontenot
authors.forename: Alexander Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Rudensky
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D018122:B7-1 Antigen / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D051940:B7-2 Antigen; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D037182:T-Cell Antigen Receptor Specificity / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D018122:B7-1 Antigen; D051940:B7-2 Antigen; D018106:CD28 Antigens; C497964:CD86 protein, human; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; C556706:CTLA4 protein, human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell