Regulatory T cells in immunologic self-tolerance and autoimmune disease.
Naturally arising CD25+ CD4+ regulatory T cells play key roles in the maintenance of immunologic self-tolerance and negative control of various immune responses. The majority, if not all, of them are produced by the normal thymus as a functionally distinct T-cell subpopulation, and their generation is in part developmentally controlled. Genetic abnormality in the development and function of this population can indeed be a cause of autoimmune disease, immunopathology, and allergy in humans. This regulatory population can be exploited to prevent and treat autoimmune disease by strengthening and reestablishing immunologic self-tolerance.
Sakaguchi
Shimon
S
Department of Experimental Pathology, Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Shogoin, Kyoto, Japan. shimon@frontier.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Sakaguchi
Noriko
N
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D015703:Antigens, CD