title: Generation of Regulatory T Cells to Antigen Expressed in the Retina.
abstract: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are generated to antigens (Ag) found in the retina. Some Tregs are the result of ectopic expression of the retinal Ags in the thymus, where developing T cells are committed to enter the regulatory lineage. However, the generation of retinal Ag-specific Tregs independent of the thymus was uncertain. Our studies show that Tregs can be generated from mature, peripheral T cells based on exposure to retinal Ags. These peripherally induced Tregs limited immune responses and experimental autoimmune disease induced by retinal Ags and thus constitute a crucial component of retinal immune privilege.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455 USA.
authors.forename: Scott W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: McPherson
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455 USA.
authors.forename: Neal D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Heuss
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455 USA.
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lehman
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455 USA.
authors.forename: Dale S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Gregerson
keywords: Regulatory T cells; immune privilege; retina