Inhibition of the allergic response by regulatory T cells.
OBJECTIVE
Allergic diseases are caused by the overdevelopment of T-helper type 2 biased immune responses in susceptible individuals. A number of recent studies indicate that regulatory T cells play an important role in controlling such T-helper type 2 biased responses not only in animal models, but in humans as well, and these will be reviewed in this article.


RESULTS
A family of regulatory cells appears to be involved in regulating allergies. Both naturally occurring CD4CD25 regulatory T cells and inducible forms of antigen-specific regulatory T cells, both expressing the transcription factor foxp3, have been shown to inhibit the inappropriate immune responses involved in allergic diseases. Impaired expansion of natural or adaptive regulatory T cells is hypothesized to lead to the development of allergy, and treatment to induce allergen-specific regulatory T cells could provide curative therapies for allergy and asthma.


CONCLUSIONS
Allergen-specific regulatory T cells play an important role in controlling the development of allergy and asthma.
Stock
Philippe
P
Department of Pediatric Pneumology and Immunology, University Hospital Charité, Berlin, Germany.
DeKruyff
Rosemarie H
RH
Umetsu
Dale T
DT
D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D007167:Immunotherapy; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
D000485:Allergens; D000939:Epitopes; D016753:Interleukin-10