title: Can you rely on Treg cells on the rebound?
abstract: FoxP3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells comprise a highly dynamic population that restrains autoreactivity. Although complete or long-term depletion of Foxp3(+) CD4(+) Treg cells in adult mice has been shown to result in chronic inflammation and autoimmune disease, the impact of transient Treg-cell depletion on self-reactive responses is poorly defined. A new study published in this issue of the European Journal of Immunology [Eur. J. Immunol. 2014. 44: 3621-3631] shows that, although transient depletion of Treg cells in mice is swiftly followed by recovery of Treg-cell numbers, the "rebounded" population fails to maintain tolerance, culminating in severe autoimmune gastritis. This commentary explores new questions about the quantitative and qualitative aspects of Treg-cell function in immunological tolerance raised by this study and others.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Genetics of Cancer Division, Immunology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Charis E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Teh
authors.forename: Daniel H D
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Gray
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000276:immunology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D051379:Mice; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C498833:Foxp3 protein, mouse
keywords: Autoimmune gastritis; Foxp3; Immune homeostasis; Immunological tolerance; Regulatory T (Treg) cells