title: Rethinking the molecular definition of regulatory T cells.
abstract: It has been postulated that expression of the transcription factor Foxp3 "specifically" identifies the regulatory T cell (Treg) lineage and it acts as its "master regulator" or "lineage specification factor". However, emerging evidence challenges these views and suggests that the Treg lineage may be determined by a higher-order regulatory process that ensures stable and high levels Foxp3 expression.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit for Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Research Center for Allergy and Immunology, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan. shohei@rcai.riken.jp
authors.forename: Shohei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hori
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000276:immunology; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors