title: What would Treg-cell biology look like when viewed from a rationalized perspective?
abstract: The argument that Treg cells play a role in determining the Self (S)-Nonself (NS) discrimination (i.e. tolerance) is challenged based on two theoretical constructs, the two stage-two signal model for the S-NS discrimination and the Tritope model of TCR function. The conclusions are then tested by reinterpreting a published probing set of data purporting to show that Treg cells regulate tolerance. It is concluded that the major role of suppression is to operate as a feedback mechanism modulating the magnitude of the effector response; it is not a determinant of the S-NS discrimination (i.e. tolerance).
authors.affiliation: Conceptual Immunology Group, The Salk Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Melvin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cohn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018448:Models, Immunological; D017634:Self Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
keywords: Autoimmunity; Feedback suppression; T-cell receptor polyreactivity; Tolerance; Treg cell