title: Regulatory CD4 T cells: sensing the environment.
abstract: The immunosuppressive properties of naturally occurring regulatory T cells (Tregs) have classically been linked to an intrinsic state of hyporesponsiveness, yet, paradoxically, Tregs are phenotypically in an activated state and have intact proliferative capacity. In consideration of several recent biochemical reports on the intracellular signaling pathways operating in activated CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs, we argue that the responsiveness of Tregs depends greatly on the local microenvironment. In particular, what influences Tregs to remain anergic or to proliferate arises from their ability to probe the extracellular milieu to respond to external stimuli for the modulation of intracellular signaling events, leading to very different quantitative and qualitative functional outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Immunologia, Istituto di Endocrinologia e Oncologia Sperimentale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IEOS-CNR), Italy. gmatarese@napoli.com
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Matarese
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Rosa
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: La Cava
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology*; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000502:physiology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors