title: CD4(+)HLA-G(+) regulatory T cells: Molecular signature and pathophysiological relevance.
abstract: The regulation of potentially harmful immune responses by regulatory T (Treg) cells is essential for maintaining peripheral immune tolerance and homeostasis. Especially CD4(+) Treg cells have been regarded as pivotal regulators of autoreactive and inflammatory responses as well as inducers of immune tolerance by using a variety of immune suppressive mechanisms. Besides the well-known classical CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) Treg cells, CD4(+) T cells expressing the immune tolerizing molecule human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) have been recently described as another potent thymus-derived Treg (tTreg) cell subset. Albeit both tTreg subsets share common molecular characteristics, the mechanisms of their immunosuppressive function differ fundamentally. Dysfunction and numerical abnormalities of classical CD4(+) tTreg cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of several immune-mediated diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Clearly, a deeper understanding of the various CD4(+) tTreg subsets and also the underlying mechanisms of impaired immune tolerance in these disorders are essential for the development of potential therapeutic strategies. This review focuses on the current knowledge on defining features and functioning of HLA-G(+)CD4(+) tTreg cells as well as their emerging role in various pathologies with special emphasis on the pathogenesis of MS. Furthermore, future research possibilities together with potential therapeutic applications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Muenster, Germany. Electronic address: susann.pankratz@ukmuenster.de.
authors.forename: Susann
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pankratz
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Muenster, Germany. Electronic address: tobias.ruck@ukmuenster.de.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ruck
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Muenster, Germany. Electronic address: sven.meuth@ukmuenster.de.
authors.forename: Sven G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Meuth
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Muenster, Germany. Electronic address: heinz.wiendl@ukmuenster.de.
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wiendl
mesh_terms: D015551:Autoimmunity; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D059951:HLA-G Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000639:trends*; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000502:physiology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000502:physiology*; D059467:Transcriptome
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit
keywords: Autoimmunity; Human leukocyte antigen G; Immune tolerance; Multiple sclerosis; Regulatory T cells