Humoral autoimmunity: a failure of regulatory T cells?
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential in maintaining tolerance to self. Several lines of evidence indicate that Tregs are functionally impaired in a variety of autoimmune diseases, leading to inefficient regulation of autoimmune T cells. Recent findings also suggest that Tregs are essential in controlling autoreactive B cells. The recently identified follicular regulatory T cell subset (TFR) is thought to regulate the production of autoantibodies in the germinal center (GC) response. Here we provide an update on the role of Tregs in controlling the GC response, and whether defective control over B cell tolerance contributes to autoimmunity.
Hasselt University, Biomedisch Onderzoeksinstituut and Transnationale Universiteit Limburg, School of Life Sciences, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
Tessa
T
Dhaeze
Hasselt University, Biomedisch Onderzoeksinstituut and Transnationale Universiteit Limburg, School of Life Sciences, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
Piet
P
Stinissen
Autoimmune Genetics Laboratory, VIB, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Leuven, Belgium.
Adrian
A
Liston
Hasselt University, Biomedisch Onderzoeksinstituut and Transnationale Universiteit Limburg, School of Life Sciences, Diepenbeek, Belgium. Electronic address: niels.hellings@uhasselt.be.
Niels
N
Hellings
D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
B cells; Circulating follicular regulatory T cells; Follicular T cells; Germinal center response; Humoral autoimmune disease; Regulatory T cells