Heat shock proteins (HSPs) in the homeostasis of regulatory T cells (Tregs).
Heat shock proteins (HSPs) belong to the family of conservative polypeptides with a high homology of the primary structure. The uniqueness of this family lies in their ability to interact with a large number of different proteins and provide protection from cellular and environmental stress factors as molecular chaperones to keep protein homeostasis. While intracellular HSPs play a mainly protective role, extracellular or membrane-bound HSPs mediate immunological functions and immunomodulatory activity. In immune system are subsets of cells including regulatory T cells (Tregs) with suppressive functions. HSPs are implicated in the function of innate and adaptive immune systems, stimulate T lymphocyte proliferation and immunomodulatory functions, increase the effectiveness of cross-presentation of antigens, and induce the secretion of cytokines. HSPs are also important in the induction, proliferation, suppressive function, and cytokine production of Tregs, which are a subset of CD4+T cells maintaining peripheral tolerance. Together HSPs and Tregs are potential tools for future clinical interventions in autoimmune disease.
Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Cellular Therapies, Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland.
Tomasz
T
Koliński
Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Cellular Therapies, Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland.
Natalia
N
Marek-Trzonkowska
Department of Clinical Immunology and Transplantology, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland.
Piotr
P
Trzonkowski
Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland.
Janusz
J
Siebert
heat shock proteins (HSPs); immune regulation; lymphocytes; regulatory T cells (Tregs)