Regulatory T cells as therapeutic targets in rheumatoid arthritis.
Regulatory T cells (TREG) are a subset of CD4+ T cells with a critical role in the prevention of autoimmunity. Whether defects in TREG contribute to the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is unclear. However, a variety of approved and experimental drugs for RA may work, in part, by promoting the function or increasing numbers of TREG. Furthermore, animal studies demonstrate that direct injection of TREG ameliorates a wide range of experimental models of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Thus, cell-based therapy with TREG has the potential to produce durable disease remission in patients with RA.
Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Jonathan H
JH
Esensten
David
D
Wofsy
Jeffrey A
JA
Bluestone
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D016913:Blood Component Transfusion; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents