Regulatory T cells in the control of autoimmune diabetes: the case of the NOD mouse.
Over the last few years, there has been a revival of the concept of suppressor/regulatory T cells being central players in the control of various immune responses, including autoimmune responses and immune response to transplants, tumors, and infectious agents. It appears that regulatory T cells are diverse in their phenotypes, antigen specificity, and modes of action. Here we summarize studies from various groups, including our own, demonstrating that specialized subsets of regulatory T cells are pivotal in the control of autoimmune diabetes as well shown by the compelling evidence accumulated using the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse model. We also provide a discussion of the evidence showing that some biological products (such as CD3-specific monoclonal antibodies) are representatives of a new category of immunotherapeutic agents endowed with unique capacities to promote immunological tolerance (an antigen-specific unresponsiveness in the absence of long-term generalized immunosuppression) through their ability to induce immunoregulatory T cells.
Chatenoud
Lucienne
L
Université René Descartes, INSERM U580 Hôpital Necker, Paris, France. chatenoud@necker.fr
Bach
Jean-François
JF
D000818:Animals; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology*; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*