title: FOXP3(+) Treg Cells and Gender Bias in Autoimmune Diseases.
abstract: CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells play a pivotal role in the maintenance of immune homeostasis, where the X-linked master transcription factor forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) determines Treg cell development and function. Genetic deficiency of foxp3 induces dysfunction of Treg cells and immuno-dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, and X-linked syndrome in humans. Functionally deficient Treg cells or the development of exTreg cells positively correlate with autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), multiple sclerosis (MS), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). In general, females are more susceptible to SLE and MS but less susceptible to AS, where the expression of FOXP3 and its protein complex are perturbed by multiple factors, including hormonal fluctuations, inflammatory cytokines, and danger signals. Therefore, it is critical to explore the potential molecular mechanisms involved and these differences linked to gender. Here, we review recent findings on the regulation of FOXP3 activity in Treg cells and also discuss gender difference in the determination of Treg cell function in autoimmune diseases.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Shanghai , China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Shanghai , China.
authors.forename: Yang Yang
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Clinical Immunology Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University , Guangzhou , China ; Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine , Hershey, PA , USA.
authors.forename: Song Guo
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Shanghai , China ; Innovent Biologics Inc. , Suzhou , China.
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsun
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Shanghai , China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
keywords: FOXP3; Treg cells; autoimmunity; gender; inflammation