Foxp3+ regulatory T cells: differentiation, specification, subphenotypes.
Regulatory T cells (T(reg) cells) characterized by expression of the transcription factor Foxp3 play a key role in immune homeostasis. Rather than a monomorphic population strictly determined by Foxp3 as a 'master regulator', the emerging view is one of T(reg) cells as a population with many levels of complexity. Several regulatory factors partake in the control of their transcriptional 'signature', with Foxp3 being a key regulator but insufficient and unnecessary to specify all aspects of the lineage. Distinct subphenotypes of Foxp3+ T(reg) cells are found in different anatomical locations. Some subphenotypes specifically control different facets of effector T cell function and, perhaps surprisingly, share transcriptional control elements with the very cells they regulate. This review will focus on these novel aspects of T(reg) cell diversity.
Feuerer
Markus
M
Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Hill
Jonathan A
JA
Mathis
Diane
D
Benoist
Christophe
C
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D018448:Models, Immunological; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D016328:NF-kappa B