Regulatory T cells: friend or foe in immunity to infection?
Homeostasis in the immune system depends on a balance between the responses that control infection and tumour growth and the reciprocal responses that prevent inflammation and autoimmune diseases. It is now recognized that regulatory T cells have a crucial role in suppressing immune responses to self-antigens and in preventing autoimmune diseases. Evidence is also emerging that regulatory T cells control immune responses to bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi. This article explores the possibility that regulatory T cells can be both beneficial to the host, through limiting the immunopathology associated with anti-pathogen immune responses, and beneficial to the pathogen, through subversion of the protective immune responses of the host.
Mills
Kingston H G
KH
Immune Regulation Research Group, Department of Biochemistry, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland. kingston.mills@tcd.ie
D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology; D007109:Immunity / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology
D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2