Trafficking of FoxP3+ regulatory T cells: myths and facts.
Fork head box P3 (FoxP3(+)) regulatory T cells (Tregs) are specialized T cells for prevention of hyperimmune responses and autoimmunity. Tumors and pathogens can hijack FoxP3(+) Tregs to evade host immune responses. There is an increasing body of evidence that trafficking of FoxP3(+) Tregs is important for their effective suppression of target cells. Because of their distinctive functions and gene expression phenotype, the migratory behavior of FoxP3(+) Tregs has been somewhat mystified. The myths are that they have unique trafficking receptors and migratory behaviors that are different from those of conventional T cells. Another related myth is that FoxP3(+) regulatory T cell subsets have a fixed trafficking behavior from the time they are generated in the thymus. The recent progress in trafficking receptors and migratory behavior of FoxP3(+) Tregs is reviewed here and the validity of these myths is examined.
Kim
Chang H
CH
Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue Cancer Center, Purdue University, 725 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. chkim@purdue.edu
D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology
C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D008222:Lymphokines