Regulatory T cells in systemic lupus erythematosus.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease, develops when immunologic self-tolerance fails. Treg cells are a subset of CD4(+) T cells that maintain self-tolerance by suppressing autoreactive lymphocytes. Defects in Treg cells are therefore considered to be an aspect of SLE pathogenesis. Nevertheless, reports on the numbers and function of Treg cells in SLE are contradictory and the definitive role of Treg cells in SLE remains unclear. In this review, we summarize findings from murine models and ex vivo experiments, which provide insights into the mechanisms that result in the breakdown of tolerance. We also include recent findings about Treg-cell subsets and their markers in human SLE. The identification of unique markers to identify bona fide Treg cells, as well as therapies to reconstitute the balance between Treg cells and autoreactive T cells in SLE, are the future challenges for SLE research.
Department of Pediatrics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany; IZKF Aachen, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
Kim
K
Ohl
Klaus
K
Tenbrock
D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D051740:Ikaros Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
D015415:Biomarkers; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C111431:IKZF2 protein, human; D051740:Ikaros Transcription Factor
FoxP3; Helios; Regulatory T-cell subsets; Systemic lupus erythematosus