title: Functional stability of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells.
abstract: Significant evidence demonstrates that CD4(+) regulatory T cells (T(reg)) expressing the Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) transcription factor are a distinct lineage of CD4(+) T cells that are essential for maintaining self-tolerance and modulating immunity to various nonself-antigens under changing inflammatory settings. Stable Foxp3 expression ensures T(reg) function in a variety of inflammatory contexts. However, the model of T(reg) cells as a stable, long-lived lineage is controversial. Whereas some studies have observed long-lived T(reg) function, recent studies suggest that T(reg) cells adapt to microenvironmental changes and consequently manifest functional plasticity by reprogramming into inflammatory T cells. Here, we review the evidence addressing the functional stability or plasticity of Foxp3(+) T(reg) cells and the implications for immune homeostasis and disease.
authors: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2B4, Canada.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: da Silva Martins
authors: Ciriaco A
authors: CA
authors: Piccirillo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors