title: The role of the T cell in autoimmune inflammation.
abstract: T cells, in particular CD4+ T cells, have been implicated in mediating many aspects of autoimmune inflammation. However, current evidence suggests that the role played by CD4+ T cells in the development of rheumatoid inflammation exceeds that of activated proinflammatory T-helper (Th)1 effector cells that drive the chronic autoimmune response. Subsets of CD4+ T cells with regulatory capacity, such as CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells and Th2 cells, have been identified, and recent observations suggest that in rheumatoid arthritis the function of these regulatory T cells is severely impaired. Thus, in rheumatoid arthritis, defective regulatory mechanisms might allow the breakdown of peripheral tolerance, after which the detrimental Th1-driven immune response evolves and proceeds to chronic inflammation. Here, we review the functional abnormalities and the contribution of different T cell subsets to rheumatoid inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Nikolaus Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, Clinical Research Group III, Department of Internal Medicine III and Institute for Clinical Immunology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Alla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skapenko
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leipe
authors.forename: Peter E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Lipsky
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schulze-Koops
mesh_terms: D000069594:Abatacept; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D024201:Bystander Effect; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018796:Immunoconjugates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069594:Abatacept