Regulatory T cell maintenance of dominant tolerance: induction of tissue self-defense?
In the last decade there has been an increasing interest for the action of regulatory T cells (Treg) in preventing transplant rejection, autoimmunity and other inflammatory diseases and in maintaining dominant tolerance. It is becoming clear that such regulatory function does not rely simply on direct inhibition of "aggressive" T cells. In fact, several studies suggest that Treg cells may induce changes in the target tissue, promoting a state of "immune privilege" where protective genes such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and indolamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO) may have a critical role.
Oliveira
Vanessa
V
Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Universidade de Lisboa, P1694-028 Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, P2781-901 Oeiras, Portugal.
Agua-Doce
Ana
A
Duarte
Joana
J
Soares
Miguel P
MP
Graca
Luis
L
D000818:Animals; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D018448:Models, Immunological; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D014181:Transplantation Immunology; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D014364:Tryptophan; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1