title: Regulation of FoxP3 regulatory T cells and Th17 cells by retinoids.
abstract: Vitamin A has both positive and negative regulatory functions in the immune system. While vitamin A is required for normal formation of immune cells and epithelial cell barriers, vitamin A deficiency can lead to increased inflammatory responses and tissue damage. The mechanism with which vitamin A and its metabolites such as retinoids negatively regulate inflammatory responses has not been clearly defined. Recently, it has been established that retinoids promote the generation of immune-suppressive FoxP3+ regulatory T cells while they suppress the T cell differentiation into inflammatory Th17 cells in the periphery such as intestine. These novel functions of retinoids provide a potentially important immune regulatory mechanism. In this review, we discuss the functions of retinoids in the development of the FoxP3+ cells and Th17 cells, the phenotype and functions of retinoid-induced FoxP3+ T cells, and the impact of retinoid-induced FoxP3+ T cells on the immune tolerance.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunology and Hematopoiesis, Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue Cancer Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. chkim@purdue.edu
authors.forename: Chang H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051379:Mice; D012176:Retinoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D020381:Interleukin-17; D012176:Retinoids