Transforming growth factor-beta: an important role in CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells and immune tolerance.
The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) protein family is highly evolutionarily conserved and they have been implicated in many biological processes. Also, TGF-beta can exert pivotal functions in the immune system. It is widely accepted that regulatory T cells (Treg cells) play an important role in the maintenance of the immune homeostasis, but the underlying molecular mechanisms through which they can gain and/or perform suppressive functions in an active way remains to be defined. Though the engagement of TGF-beta in the Treg cells has been discounted for a period of time, an emerging body of data has established a close link between Treg cells and TGF-beta, as TGF-beta has been demonstrated to induce the expression of Foxp3, which acts as a master regulator for the development and function of Treg cells. We will, herein, focus on the crucial role of TGF-beta signaling in Treg cell biology and summarize the current studies regarding TGF-beta in the generation and function of CD4+CD25+Treg cells both in vivo and in vitro.
Zhang
Lianjun
L
Transplantation Biology Research Division, State Key Laboratory of Biomembrane and Membrane Biotechnology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Yi
Huanfa
H
Xia
Xue-Pei
XP
Zhao
Yong
Y
D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000276:immunology*
D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C498833:Foxp3 protein, mouse; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta