Control of Th2-mediated inflammation by regulatory T cells.
Allergic diseases and asthma are caused by dysregulated Th2-type immune responses, which drive disease development in susceptible individuals. Immune tolerance to allergens prevents inflammatory symptoms in the respiratory mucosa and provides protection against inflammation in the airways. Increasing evidence indicates that Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a critical role in immune tolerance and control Th2-biased responses. Tregs develop in the thymus from CD4(+) T cells (natural Tregs) and also in the periphery by the conversion of naïve CD4(+) T cells (induced Tregs). Increased susceptibility to allergy and airway inflammation is hypothesized to result from impaired development and function of Tregs. Thus, strategies to induce allergen-specific Tregs hold great promise for treatment and prevention of asthma.
Venuprasad
K
K
Karmanos Cancer Institute and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. poojaryv@karmanos.org
Poojary
K Venuprasad
KV
Kong
Yi-Chi M
YC
Farrar
Michael A
MA
D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
D000485:Allergens; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D018836:Inflammation Mediators