Dynamics of antigen-specific regulatory T-cells in the context of autoimmunity.
Naturally occurring regulatory T-cells (nT-reg) are crucial in preventing generalized autoimmunity. However, antigen-specific T-reg responses during organ-specific autoimmunity have not been characterized until recently when novel tools including MHC class II-tetramers and Foxp3gfp "knock-in" reporter mice (Foxp3gfp.KI) became available. In this review, we introduce the concept of functional compartmentalisation in that T-reg may behave differently when they maintain peripheral tolerance in the secondary lymphoid tissue in a non-inflammatory environment as compared to when they are expanded and targeted to the site of inflammation following an autoantigen-specific, immunogenic stimulus.
Korn
Thomas
T
Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. tkorn@rics.bwh.harvard.edu
Oukka
Mohamed
M
D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
D000941:Antigens; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C498833:Foxp3 protein, mouse; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins